Catalysts containing a support and a metal oxide, and reactors and methods of using the catalysts in a carbonylation reaction, such as alcohol carbonylation and ester carbonylation, are described herein. The support is typically chemically inert and has a high surface area. The metal oxide typically contains a transition metal or a mixture of metals, such as rhenium, aluminum, tungsten, molybdenum, or a combination thereof. Typically, the metal oxide is mainly atomically dispersed on the surface of the support, as indicated by STEM. For example, at least 10% of the metal oxide is atomically dispersed on the surface of the support. The method includes (i) exposing a mixture of one or more alcohols or one or more esters and carbon monoxide to the catalyst. Typically, the one or more alcohols or one or more esters and carbon monoxide are in a gas phase.

Catalysts containing a support and a metal oxide, and reactors and methods of using the catalysts in a carbonylation reaction, such as alcohol carbonylation and ester carbonylation, are described herein. The support is typically chemically inert and has a high surface area. The metal oxide typically contains a transition metal or a mixture of metals, such as rhenium, aluminum, tungsten, molybdenum, or a combination thereof. Typically, the metal oxide is mainly atomically dispersed on the surface of the support, as indicated by STEM. For example, at least 10% of the metal oxide is atomically dispersed on the surface of the support. The method includes (i) exposing a mixture of one or more alcohols or one or more esters and carbon monoxide to the catalyst. Typically, the one or more alcohols or one or more esters and carbon monoxide are in a gas phase.

A tableted catalyst support, characterized by an alpha-alumina content of at least 85 wt.-%, a pore volume of at least 0.40 mL/g, as determined by mercury porosimetry, and a BET surface area of 0.5 to 5.0 m.sup.2/g. The tableted catalyst support is an alpha-alumina catalyst support obtained with high geometrical precision and displaying a high overall pore volume, thus allowing for impregnation with a high amount of silver, while exhibiting a surface area sufficiently large so as to provide optimal dispersion of catalytically active species, in particular metal species. The invention further provides a process for producing a tableted alpha-alumina catalyst support, which comprises i) forming a free-flowing feed mixture comprising, based on inorganic solids content, at least 50 wt.-% of a transition alumina; ii) tableting the free-flowing feed mixture to obtain a compacted body; and iii) heat treating the compacted body at a temperature of at least 1100° C., preferably at least 1300° C., more preferably at least 1400° C., in particular at least 1450° C., to obtain the tableted alpha-alumina catalyst support. The invention moreover relates to a compacted body obtained by tableting a free-flowing feed mixture which comprises, based on inorganic solids content, at least 50 wt.-% of a transition alumina having a loose bulk density of at most 600 g/L, a pore volume of at least 0.6 mL/g, as determined, and a median pore diameter of at least 15 nm. The invention moreover relates to a shaped catalyst body for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising at least 15 wt.-% of silver, relative to the total weight of the catalyst, deposited on the tableted alpha-alumina catalyst support. The invention moreover relates to a process for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen in the presence of the shaped catalyst body.

A tableted catalyst support, characterized by an alpha-alumina content of at least 85 wt.-%, a pore volume of at least 0.40 mL/g, as determined by mercury porosimetry, and a BET surface area of 0.5 to 5.0 m.sup.2/g. The tableted catalyst support is an alpha-alumina catalyst support obtained with high geometrical precision and displaying a high overall pore volume, thus allowing for impregnation with a high amount of silver, while exhibiting a surface area sufficiently large so as to provide optimal dispersion of catalytically active species, in particular metal species. The invention further provides a process for producing a tableted alpha-alumina catalyst support, which comprises i) forming a free-flowing feed mixture comprising, based on inorganic solids content, at least 50 wt.-% of a transition alumina; ii) tableting the free-flowing feed mixture to obtain a compacted body; and iii) heat treating the compacted body at a temperature of at least 1100° C., preferably at least 1300° C., more preferably at least 1400° C., in particular at least 1450° C., to obtain the tableted alpha-alumina catalyst support. The invention moreover relates to a compacted body obtained by tableting a free-flowing feed mixture which comprises, based on inorganic solids content, at least 50 wt.-% of a transition alumina having a loose bulk density of at most 600 g/L, a pore volume of at least 0.6 mL/g, as determined, and a median pore diameter of at least 15 nm. The invention moreover relates to a shaped catalyst body for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising at least 15 wt.-% of silver, relative to the total weight of the catalyst, deposited on the tableted alpha-alumina catalyst support. The invention moreover relates to a process for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen in the presence of the shaped catalyst body.

A high surface area to mass catalyst is formed by a method that includes a Kirigami mapped cutting of a flat three metal laminate composite formed on a deposition support. Kirigami derived catalyst has a shape that provides a high surface to mass ratio and promotes the flow of a fluid containing a reagent for a reaction catalyzed by the exterior metal catalyst films of the three metal laminate composite. Structural integrity of the Kirigami derived catalyst results from a support metal film residing between two metal catalyst films. The shaping to the Kirigami derived structure involves cutting the flat three metal laminate composite to that of a Kirigami map, imposing stress on the cut structure to force a non-planar deformation, and delaminating the Kirigami derived catalyst from the deposition support.

The present invention relates to the use of a catalyst made of rhenium oxide supported by cerium oxide, with formula ReO.sub.x/CeO.sub.2 (I), for catalyzing the deoxydehydration of glycerol to allyl alcohol, the reaction being carried out under heterogeneous conditions in the presence of at least one aliphatic alcohol; and to a method for producing allyl alcohol from glycerol in the presence of the catalyst.

The present invention relates to the use of a catalyst made of rhenium oxide supported by cerium oxide, with formula ReO.sub.x/CeO.sub.2 (I), for catalyzing the deoxydehydration of glycerol to allyl alcohol, the reaction being carried out under heterogeneous conditions in the presence of at least one aliphatic alcohol; and to a method for producing allyl alcohol from glycerol in the presence of the catalyst.

A functional structural body that can realize a prolonged life time by suppressing the decrease in function and that can fulfill resource saving without requiring a complicated replacement operation is provided. A functional structural body includes a skeletal body of a porous structure composed of a zeolite-type compound; and at least one solid acid present in the skeletal body, the skeletal body has channels connecting with each other, and the solid acid is present at least in the channels of the skeletal body.

A functional structural body that can realize a prolonged life time by suppressing the decrease in function and that can fulfill resource saving without requiring a complicated replacement operation is provided. A functional structural body includes a skeletal body of a porous structure composed of a zeolite-type compound; and at least one solid acid present in the skeletal body, the skeletal body has channels connecting with each other, and the solid acid is present at least in the channels of the skeletal body.

To provide a highly active structured catalyst for methanol reforming that suppresses the decline in catalytic function and has excellent catalytic function, and a methanol reforming device. A structured catalyst for methanol reforming, including: a support of a porous structure composed of a zeolite-type compound; and a catalytic substance present in the support, in which the support has channels communicating with each other, and the catalytic substance is present at least in the channels of the support.