A process to efficiently convert organic feedstock material into liquid non-oxygenated hydrocarbons in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.12 carbon skeleton range is disclosed. The process can utilize gaseous, liquid or solid organic feedstocks containing carbon, hydrogen and, optionally, oxygen. The feedstock may require preparation of the organic feedstock for the process and is converted first into a synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas is then cleaned and conditioned and extraneous components removed, leaving substantially only the carbon monoxide and hydrogen. It is then converted via a series of chemical reactions into the desired liquid hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons are suitable for combustion in a vehicle engine and may be regarded a replacement for petrol made from fossil fuels in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.2 carbon backbone range. The process also recycles gaseous by-products back through the various reactors of the process to maximize the liquid hydrocarbon in the C.sub.5 to C.sub.12 carbon skeleton range yield.

The present invention concerns a multifunctional catalyst for the conversion of CO.sub.2 into useful products, such as CO via the reverse water gas shift reaction. The catalyst according to the invention efficiently combined a water sorption functionality with at least one catalytic functionality into a single particle, by having a solid water sorbent impregnated with at least one metal capable of converting CO.sub.2 from a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2. The catalyst according to the invention allows for higher selectivity in the conversion of CO.sub.2, at more lenient conditions in terms of temperature and pressure, and improved stability of the catalyst itself. The invention also concerns a process for converting CO.sub.2, utilizing the catalyst and the use of the catalyst in the conversion of CO.sub.2.

Catalyst systems are provided, along with corresponding methods, for single stage conversion of synthesis gas to fuel boiling range products with increased selectivity for either naphtha production (C.sub.5-C.sub.9) or distillate production (C.sub.10-C.sub.20). The increased selectivity for naphtha production or distillate production is provided in conjunction with a reduced selectivity for higher boiling range components (C.sub.21+).

Pathways are disclosed for the production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products comprising propane and/or butane, and in certain cases renewable products having non-petroleum derived carbon. In particular, a gaseous feed mixture comprising CO.sub.2 in combination with CH.sub.4 and/or H.sub.2 is converted by reforming and/or reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reactions, further in combination with LPG synthesis. A preferred gaseous feed mixture comprises biogas or otherwise a mixture of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 that is not readily upgraded using conventional processes. Catalysts described herein have a high activity for reforming (including dry reforming) of CH.sub.4, as well as simultaneously catalyzing RWGS. These attributes improve the management of CO.sub.2 that is input to the disclosed processes, particularly in those utilizing recycle operation to increase overall CO.sub.2 conversion. Economics of small scale operations may be improved, if necessary, using an electrically heated reforming reactor in the first or initial reforming stage or RWGS stage.

The present invention provides a novel process and system in which a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen synthesis gas, or syngas, is converted into hydrocarbon mixtures composed of high quality gasoline components, aromatic compounds, and lower molecular weight gaseous olefins in one reactor or step. The invention utilizes a novel molybdenum-zeolite catalyst in high pressure hydrogen for conversion, as well as a novel rhenium-zeolite catalyst in place of the molybdenum-zeolite catalyst, and provides for use of the novel catalysts in the process and system of the invention.

A process for producing a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst according to the present invention comprises a step of calcining a carrier precursor containing silica calcined at a temperature T.sub.1 and a zirconium compound at a temperature T.sub.2 to obtain a carrier; and a step of calcining a catalyst precursor containing the carrier and a cobalt compound and/or a ruthenium compound at a temperature T.sub.3, wherein the content of the zirconium compound in the carrier precursor is 0.01 to 7% by mass in terms of zirconium oxide based on the total mass of the catalyst, and T.sub.1, T.sub.2, and T.sub.3 satisfy conditions represented by expressions (1) to (3):
T.sub.1≧T.sub.3  (1)
250° C.≦T.sub.2≦450° C.  (2)
250° C.≦T.sub.3≦450° C.  (3).

This disclosure relates to the production of xylenes from syngas, in which the syngas is converted to an aromatic product by reaction with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and an aromatization catalyst. The Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and aromatization catalyst may be different catalysts or combined into a single catalyst. The aromatic product is then subjected to selective alkylation with methanol and/or carbon monoxide and hydrogen to increase its p-xylene content.

An apparatus and method for producing hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons and/or lower olefins including propylene from CO H.sub.2 while inhibiting reduction in catalyst activity and enhancing selectivity. The apparatus produces hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons having 6-10 carbon atoms and/or lower olefins including propylene, and is provided: a first supply unit which supplies a raw material gas containing CO and H.sub.2; and a hydrocarbon production unit to which the raw material gas is supplied from the first supply unit, and which produces the hydrocarbons from CO and H.sub.2 contained in the raw material gas while heating a catalyst structure at a temperature of 150° C. or more and less than 300° C. or at a temperature of 350° C. or more and less than 550° C., the catalyst structure includes supports having a porous structure and including a zeolite-type compound, and a metal fine particle present in the supports, the supports have channels communicating with outside the supports, and a portion of the channels have an average inner diameter of 0.95 nm or less.

Form liquid product stream that has a C.sub.13 to C.sub.20 hydrocarbon content of less than 5.0 wt % based upon a total weight of the liquid product stream via a process that includes contacting synthesis gas with a sulfurized Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 catalyst. The sulfurized Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 catalyst can include ZSM-5, cobalt, an alkali metal, sulfur, and a reduction promoter.

An alternative process and device for carrying out Fischer Tropsch (FT) syntheses is proposed, allowing the reactant entities that take part in the FT reaction to be activated and their contributions, whether by quantity or by proportion, to be adjusted. The process consists in making a particulate phase, optionally consisting of catalytic particles, flow through a reactor. While flowing through the reactor, the particulate phase is subjected at regular intervals to the action of a plasma obtained from a gas, such as hydrogen, thus enabling hydrogen activation for hydrogenation of carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide activation in order to lengthen the carbon chains.