The present invention is directed to the preparation of a cobalt containing catalyst, a precipitate as an intermediate product, a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and a process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas. The precipitate and catalyst comprise crystalline Co(OH)(CO3)0.5, the crystals are needle shaped and have a surface area of at least 80 m.sup.2/g dry precipitate.

Embodiments of the present invention relates to two improved catalysts and associated processes that directly converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen to liquid fuels. The catalytic converter is comprised of two catalysts in series that are operated at the same pressures to directly produce synthetic liquid fuels or synthetic natural gas. The carbon conversion efficiency for CO.sub.2 to liquid fuels is greater than 45%. The fuel is distilled into a premium diesel fuels (approximately 70 volume %) and naphtha (approximately 30 volume %) which are used directly as “drop-in” fuels without requiring any further processing. Any light hydrocarbons that are present with the carbon dioxide are also converted directly to fuels. This process is directly applicable to the conversion of CO.sub.2 collected from ethanol plants, cement plants, power plants, biogas, carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon mixtures from secondary oil recovery, and other carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon streams. The catalyst system is durable, efficient and maintains a relatively constant level of fuel productivity over long periods of time without requiring re-activation or replacement.

Embodiments of the present invention relates to two improved catalysts and associated processes that directly converts carbon dioxide and hydrogen to liquid fuels. The catalytic converter is comprised of two catalysts in series that are operated at the same pressures to directly produce synthetic liquid fuels or synthetic natural gas. The carbon conversion efficiency for CO.sub.2 to liquid fuels is greater than 45%. The fuel is distilled into a premium diesel fuels (approximately 70 volume %) and naphtha (approximately 30 volume %) which are used directly as “drop-in” fuels without requiring any further processing. Any light hydrocarbons that are present with the carbon dioxide are also converted directly to fuels. This process is directly applicable to the conversion of CO.sub.2 collected from ethanol plants, cement plants, power plants, biogas, carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon mixtures from secondary oil recovery, and other carbon dioxide/hydrocarbon streams. The catalyst system is durable, efficient and maintains a relatively constant level of fuel productivity over long periods of time without requiring re-activation or replacement.

Continuous processes for making ethylene glycol form aldohexose-yielding carbohydrates are disclosed which enhance the selectivity to ethylene glycol.

A process for preparing high molecular weight, branched, acyclic polyalkyleneamines comprising transaminating a reaction mixture that includes at least a first polyalkyleneamine component that contains at least two non-tertiary amine groups separated from one another by a ternary or higher carbon atom and a second polyalkyleneamine component having the formula wherein x, y, and z are the same or different and are integers of from 1 to 10; a, b, c, d, e, and f are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A, B, C, D, E, are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; provided that at least two of the amine groups are primary or secondary. ##STR00001##

A continuous process for converting carbohydrates to ethylene and propylene glycol. The carbohydrates are mixed with water and passed through a reactor at a temperature that hydrolyzes the carbohydrate mixture at least partially to monosaccharides. The reactor has a first zone comprising a retro-aldol catalyst and a second zone comprising a reducing catalyst. The aldose is converted in the first zone into glycolaldehyde by the retro-aldol catalyst and the glycolaldehyde, in the presence of hydrogen, is converted to ethylene glycol in the second zone of the reactor. The reaction products are removed from the reactor and the ethylene glycol is recovered. The selectivity to propylene glycol can be enhanced via feeding ketose as the carbohydrate.

This invention relates to a catalyst containing from about 2 up to about 8% by wt. of copper, zero up to about 0.6 moles/kg of one or more alkali metal(s), from about 0.08 up about 0.85 moles/kg of one or more alkaline earth metals and from about 0.09 up to about 0.9 moles/kg of one or more transition metals selected from the group consisting of Mn, Re and mixtures thereof, where all the metals are impregnated in form of their chlorides or other water soluble salts on a fluidizable support with a BET surface area of from about 80 up to about 220 m.sup.2/g. A process for the oxychlorination of ethylene to form 1,2-dichloroethane using such a catalyst having good activity, good selectivity and low tendency to stickiness in fluidized bed oxychlorination reactions.

The invention concerns a process for preparing a chlorine comprising catalyst by (a) providing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising titania and at least 5 weight percent cobalt; (b) impregnating the catalyst with a solution comprising chloride ions; and (c) heating the impregnated catalyst at a temperature in the range of between 100 and 500° C. for at least 5 minutes up to 2 days. The prepared catalyst preferably comprises 0.13-3 weight percent of the element chlorine. The invention further relates to the prepared catalyst and its use.

The present invention relates to a method for producing the activated catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis comprising: a first step of reducing a catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; a second step of preparing liquid hydrocarbon in which a part or all of molecular oxygen is eliminated; and a third step of introducing the reduced catalyst prepared in the first step into the liquid hydrocarbon prepared in the second step while blocking its contact with air. Since the reduced catalyst used for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is introduced into liquid hydrocarbon from which molecular oxygen is removed or coated by liquid hydrocarbon, the catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis activated based on the present invention maintains a high activity even if exposed to the air for a long time, thereby easily facilitating the long-term storage and long-distance transfer of the reduced catalyst.

The invention relates to a method to start up a Fischer-Tropsch process. A catalyst with a latent activity is used. The catalyst comprises titania, cobalt, promoter, and chlorine. The catalyst comprises more than 0.7 and less than 4 weight percent of the element chlorine, calculated on the total weight of the catalyst.