Abstract: An asphalt composition comprising aggregate, bitumen, sulphur and an anionic surfactant is disclosed, wherein the amount of anionic surfactant is from 0.05 wt % to 10 wt %, based upon the weight of the sulphur. Methods of preparing asphalt compositions and asphalt pavements are also disclosed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a process for the manufacture of sulphur-containing fertilizer compositions, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing a slurry of at least one phosphate-based fertilizer material selected from the group consisting of ammonium phosphates, ammonium phosphate based nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) compounds, super phosphates and partially acidulated phosphate rocks; b} bringing said slurry into contact with at least one surfactant and elemental sulphur; and c) introducing the mixture obtained in step b) into a granulator unit in order to obtain granules of the fertilizer composition, wherein the elemental sulphur is present in an amount in the range of form 1 to 25 wt. %, based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition The present invention also provides a fertilizer composition.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of sulphur-containing fertilizer compositions, comprising the steps of: a} providing a slurry of at least one phosphate-based fertilizer material selected from the group consisting of ammonium phosphates, ammonium phosphate based nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) compounds, super phosphates and partially acidulated phosphate rocks; b) bringing said slurry into contact with at least one anionic surfactant and elemental sulphur; c) introducing the mixture obtained in step b} into a granulator unit in order to obtain granules of the fertilizer composition, wherein the at least one phosphate-based fertilizer material is present in an amount in the range of at least 50 wt. %, the elemental sulphur is present in an amount in the range of from 1 to 25 wt. % and the anionic surfactant is present in an amount in the range of from 0.001 to 3 wt. % based on the overall weight of the fertilizer composition. The present invention also provides a fertilizer composition.

Abstract: A method of supporting a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst material comprising a catalytically active metal and a carrier material on a metallic substrate in which the catalyst material is applied to the substrate and is heated to form a catalyst material layer fixed to the substrate with cracks having sub-millimeter widths formed in the layer creating domains with the range of the relative sizes of the domains being approximately 1:5.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a packed bed comprising an iron enriched cobalt catalyst for use in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a packed bed with one or more catalyst particles comprising metallic cobalt; (b) contacting a part of the catalyst particle(s) in the packed bed with an iron containing compound. The process is preferably conducted in situ which conveniently results in an iron containing cobalt catalyst with a higher C5+ selectivity. In certain preferred embodiments the concentration of iron increases towards the surface of the resulting catalyst particles whereas the cobalt concentration is constant which further increases the selectivity of the catalyst to producing C5+ hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Process for the manufacture of sulphur-containing fertilizer compositions, comprising the steps of: a} providing a slurry of at least one phosphate-based fertilizer material selected from the group consisting of ammonium phosphates, ammonium phosphate based nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) compounds, super phosphates and partially acidulated phosphate rocks; b) bringing said slurry into contact with at least one anionic surfactant and elemental sulphur; c) introducing the mixture obtained in step b} into a granulator unit in order to obtain granules of the fertilizer composition, wherein the at least one phosphate-based fertilizer material is present in an amount in the range of at least 50 wt. %, the elemental sulphur is present in an amount in the range of from 1 to 25 wt. % and the anionic surfactant is present in an amount in the range of from 0.001 to 3 wt. % based on the overall weight of the fertilizer composition. The present invention also provides a fertilizer composition.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a process for the manufacture of sulphur-containing fertilizer compositions, said process comprising the steps of: a) providing a slurry of at least one phosphate-based fertilizer material selected from the group consisting of ammonium phosphates, ammonium phosphate based nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) compounds, super phosphates and partially acidulated phosphate rocks; b} bringing said slurry into contact with at least one surfactant and elemental sulphur; and c) introducing the mixture obtained in step b) into a granulator unit in order to obtain granules of the fertilizer composition, wherein the elemental sulphur is present in an amount in the range of form 1 to 25 wt. %, based on the total weight of the fertilizer composition The present invention also provides a fertilizer composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the conversion of cobalt(II)hydroxide into cobalt(III)oxidehydroxide (CoOOH) by reaction of the cobalt(II)hydroxide with oxygen in the presence of certain metal compounds. The invention further relates to the use of cobalt(III)oxidehydroxide thus prepared in the preparation of catalysts or catalysts precursors, especially catalysts or catalyst precursors for the conversion of synthesis gas into normally liquid and normally solid hydrocarbons and to normally liquid or solid hydrocarbons, optionally after additional hydrotreatment, obtained in such a conversion process.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a catalyst or catalyst precursor, comprising the steps of: (a) admixing: (i) a catalytically active metal or metal compound (ii) a carrier material (iii) a gluing agent; and (iv) optionally one or more promoters, and/or one or more co-catalysts; (b) forming the mixture of step (a); and (c) drying the product of step (b) for more than 5 hours at a temperature up to 100 C to form the catalyst or catalyst precursor. The catalyst material mixture does not need to be calcined after forming to achieve the required minimum strength for use in a suitable reaction, such as Fischer Tropsch.

Abstract: A method of preparing, preferably recycling, a catalyst support material is disclosed and is particularly applicable to recycling a titania support. The invention includes crushing the used catalyst support that is obtained by leaching catalytic components from a used supported catalyst and preferably combining it with new catalyst support in order to provide the required average particle size and ratio of crystal phases. The invention has a number of benefits including making use of used catalyst support materials which have been conventionally disposed of and also providing a method to more efficiently recycle the active component. Where the support is recycled for a similar application, less promoter may be required.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a catalyst or catalyst precursor comprising: (a) admixing a carrier material, a homogeneous crystalline solid solution of a cobalt compound and one or more d-metal compounds and/or one or more co-catalysts or precursors thereof, and optionally a liquid; (b) forming the mixture of step (a); and (c) optionally drying and/or calcining the product of step (b).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst. The process allows the delamination of layered crystals which are used as a starting material for a catalyst. The starting material is subsequently converted into an active portion of a catalyst with an increased dispersion resulting in a higher activity. Preferred delaminating agents are di-carboxylic acids and one particular example is citric acid. Preferably at least 0.75 wt %, more preferably at least 1.5 wt % of a delaminating agent is added to the catalyst starting material.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a packed bed comprising an iron enriched cobalt catalyst for use in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a packed bed with one or more catalyst particles comprising metallic cobalt; (b) contacting a part of the catalyst particle(s) in the packed bed with an iron containing compound. The process is preferably conducted in situ which conveniently results in an iron containing cobalt catalyst with a higher C5+ selectivity. In certain preferred embodiments the concentration of iron increases towards the surface of the resulting catalyst particles whereas the cobalt concentration is constant which further increases the selectivity of the catalyst to producing C5+ hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method of supporting a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst material comprising a catalytically active metal and a carrier material on a substrate comprising the steps of: (a) applying the catalyst material to the substrate; and (b) heating the catalyst material to form a catalyst material layer fixed to the substrate, characterised in that—the catalyst carrier is a porous inorganic refractory oxide or precursor therefor; the catalyst material applied in step (a) comprises 60 to 90 weight % solvent calculated on the total weight of the catalyst material layer; when the catalyst material is subjected to the heating step (b) it comprises at most 10 weight % of solvent, calculated on the total weight of the catalyst material layer; in heating step (b) the catalyst material is heated to a temperature in the range between 250° C. and 800° C.; cracks having sub-millimetre widths are uniformly formed in the layer; after step (b) the catalyst material layer has a thickness of 5-200 microns.

Abstract: A titania catalyst support having a particle size distribution with a first peak at a first particle size and a second peak at a second particle size, wherein the second particle size is at least 50% larger than the first particle size. A method of manufacture is also disclosed. The support and resulting catalyst can be used for catalysing a Fischer-Tropsch reaction.

Abstract: A method of preparing, preferably recycling, a catalyst support material is disclosed and is particularly applicable to recycling a titania support. The invention includes crushing the used catalyst support that is obtained by leaching catalytic components from a used supported catalyst and preferably combining it with new catalyst support in order to provide the required average particle size and ratio of crystal phases. The invention has a number of benefits including making use of used catalyst support materials which have been conventionally disposed of and also providing a method to more efficiently recycle the active component. Where the support is recycled for a similar application, less promoter may be required.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a catalyst or catalyst precursor, comprising the steps of: (a) admixing: (i) a catalytically active metal or metal compound (ii) a carrier material (iii) a gluing agent; and (iv) optionally one or more promoters, and/or one or more co-catalysts; (b) forming the mixture of step (a); and (c) drying the product of step (b) for more than 5 hours at a temperature up to 100 C to form the catalyst or catalyst precursor. The catalyst material mixture does not need to be calcined after forming to achieve the required minimum strength for use in a suitable reaction, such as Fischer Tropsch.

Abstract: A process for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising the steps of a) providing a particle comprising a support and having a catalytically active metal homogenously distributed therein, wherein at least 50 wt % of the catalytically active metal is present as divalent oxide or divalent hydroxide; b) treating the particle with a water vapour comprising gas having a relative humidity of at least 80% or with liquid water for at least two hours; and c) drying the catalyst particle.

Abstract: A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst support comprising at least 15 wt % of a material having the formula XaYbOc wherein: X comprises an element selected from the group consisting of magnesium, calcium, barium, strontium, cerium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, niobium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, cadmium, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, mercury, tin, lead, lanthanides, and mixtures thereof; Y comprises a different element to X, Y selected from the group consisting of silicon, aluminium, titanium, zirconium, cerium, hafnium, gallium, and mixtures of these, preferably silicon, aluminium and titanium and mixtures thereof, especially titanium; O is oxygen; a and b are, independently, in the range of 1-6; c is in the range of 1-15. Preferably a perovskite-type structure results which is more stable and resistant to degradation.

Abstract: A process for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising the steps of a) providing a particle having a size of at least 1 mm and having a catalytically active metal homogenously distributed therein, wherein at least 50 wt % of the catalytically active metal is present as divalent oxide or divalent hydroxide; b) treating the particle with formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, n-pentanoic acid, hexanoic acid, citric acid, and/or benzoic acid an organic acid for more than 5 minutes; c) washing the catalyst particle; and d) drying the catalyst particle and/or heating the particle to a temperature in the range of 200 to 400° C.