Abstract: The invention provides processes for selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide from an input gas stream that contains carbon monoxide, oxygen and hydrogen. The process includes the step of contacting the input gas stream with a preferential oxidation catalyst. The preferential oxidation catalysts are copper-based catalysts containing low concentrations of platinum group metals. In some embodiments, the processes of the invention are conducted using preferential oxidation catalysts having an oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof, a platinum group metal and a reducible metal oxide. In other embodiments, the processes of the invention are conducted with a preferential oxidation catalysts having a cerium oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof and a platinum group metal.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing a non-pyrophoric catalyst having about 2 to 20 wt. % of a copper component, wherein at least 50 wt. % of the copper component is in the form of a copper oxide, aluminum oxide-spinel. The catalyst can be prepared by forming a mixture of a copper precursor and an alumina precursor, coextruding the mixture, drying the coextrudate and calcining the dried coextrudate at a temperature of at least 600° C. In other aspects, the invention also relates to processes for the activation of copper-based catalysts and for the regeneration of deactivated copper-based catalysts.

Abstract: Highly reactive, stable tetramanganese-oxo cubane complexes, their synthesis and their use as a functional catalyst for in vitro O2 production. Preferred complexes are i) a tetramanganese-oxo cubane complex having the formula L6Mn4O4, wherein Mn4O4, is a cubane core and L6 are six facially-capping bidentate ligands bridging between the Mn atoms; ii) a manganese-oxo-pyramid complex having the formula L6Mn4O3, wherein Mn4O3, is a pyramidal core and L6 are six bidentate ligands bridging between the Mn atoms; and iii) a manganese-oxo-butterfly complex having the formula L6Mn4O2 or L5Mn4O2, wherein Mn4O2, is a butterfly core and L6 or L5 are six or five bidentate ligands bridging between the Mn atoms. Preferred ligands are carboxylate, phosphinate or diphenylphosphinate ligands. These catalysts may be used for the oxidation of water to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide and may also be used to catalyze the oxidation of chloride and simple chloride compounds to chlorine gas.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for producing hydrogen from an input gas stream containing carbon monoxide and steam that includes contacting the input gas stream with a catalyst. The catalyst contains an inorganic oxide support; a platinum group metal dispersed on the inorganic oxide support; and a methane suppressing dispersed on the inorganic oxide support. The methane suppressing component is selected from the group consisting of oxides of tin, oxides of gallium and combinations thereof. Also provided are preferred catalyst preparations.

Abstract: Provided is a process for preparing a non-pyrophoric catalyst having about 2 to 20 wt. % of a copper component, wherein at least 50 wt. % of the copper component is in the form of a copper oxide, aluminum oxide-spinel. The catalyst can be prepared by forming a mixture of a copper precursor and an alumina precursor, coextruding the mixture, drying the coextrudate and calcining the dried coextrudate at a temperature of at least 600° C. In other aspects, the invention also relates to processes for the activation of copper-based catalysts and for the regeneration of deactivated copper-based catalysts.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for producing hydrogen from an input gas stream containing carbon monoxide and steam that includes contacting the input gas stream with a catalyst. The catalyst contains an inorganic oxide support; a platinum group metal dispersed on the inorganic oxide support; and a methane suppressing dispersed on the inorganic oxide support. The methane suppressing component is selected from the group consisting of oxides of tin, oxides of gallium and combinations thereof. Also provided are preferred catalyst preparations.

Abstract: The invention provides copper-based catalysts containing low concentrations of platinum group metals. In some embodiments, the catalysts of the invention have an oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof, a platinum group metal and a reducible metal oxide. In other embodiments, the catalysts have a cerium oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof and a platinum group metal. In one aspect, the catalysts can be employed as effective water-gas shift reaction catalyst that are stable to steam exposure at lower temperatures, e.g., below 220 ° C. The invention also provides apparatus such as fuel processors that supply hydrogen to a fuel cell, that incorporate the catalysts.

Abstract: The invention provides processes for producing hydrogen that include contacting an input gas stream comprising steam and carbon monoxide with water-gas shift catalysts. The water-gas shift catalysts are copper-based catalysts containing low concentrations of platinum group metals. In some embodiments, the processes of the invention are conducted using water-gas shift catalysts having a an oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof, a platinum group metal and a reducible metal oxide. In other embodiments, the processes of the invention are conducted with a water-gas shift catalysts having a cerium oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof and a platinum group metal.

Abstract: Provided is a ruthenium-based catalyst having from about 1 to 10 wt. % of a ruthenium component and at least about 0.5 wt. % of zinc oxide. In one embodiment of the catalyst, zinc oxide itself serves as a support on which the ruthenium is dispersed. In another embodiment, the ruthenium component and the zinc oxide are dispersed on a refractory oxide support other than zinc oxide. In a process aspect, the ruthenium-based catalyst can serve as a preferential oxidation catalyst in processes for removing carbon monoxide from an input gas stream containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen and oxygen. The invention also provides articles wherein multi-stage preferential oxidation processes for removal of carbon monoxide from hydrogen streams can be conducted.

Abstract: The invention provides copper-based preferential oxidation catalysts containing low concentrations of platinum group metals. In some embodiments, the catalysts of the invention have an oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof, a platinum group metal and a reducible metal oxide. In other embodiments, the catalysts have a cerium oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof and a platinum group metal. The catalysts serve as effective preferential oxidation catalyst that selectively oxidize carbon monoxide with minimal consumption of hydrogen. In some embodiments the catalysts of the invention are able to achieve levels of carbon monoxide below 10 ppm in output gas streams containing hydrogen operating with wide temperature ranges. The invention also provides apparatus, such as fuel processors, that supply hydrogen to a fuel cell, that incorporate the preferential oxidation catalysts.

Abstract: The invention provides processes for selectively oxidizing carbon monoxide from an input gas stream that contains carbon monoxide, oxygen and hydrogen. The process includes the step of contacting the input gas stream with a preferential oxidation catalyst. The preferential oxidation catalysts are copper-based catalysts containing low concentrations of platinum group metals. In some embodiments, the processes of the invention are conducted using preferential oxidation catalysts having an oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof, a platinum group metal and a reducible metal oxide. In other embodiments, the processes of the invention are conducted with a preferential oxidation catalysts having a cerium oxide support on which is dispersed copper or an oxide thereof and a platinum group metal.

Abstract: The invention provides a process, catalyst and apparatus for carrying out the water-gas shift reaction comprising employing a low-pyrophoricity water-gas shift reaction catalyst; wherein the low-pyrophoricity water-gas shift reaction catalyst comprises a solid high heat capacity particulate support impregnated with: (i) a reducible metal oxide and (ii) a catalytic agent.

Abstract: Provided is a trap and method for removing hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream. The hydrogen sulfide trap includes a monolith substrate on which is disposed zinc oxide, and a second metal or oxide thereof. In some aspects, the hydrogen sulfide trap is advantageously incorporated into systems for producing hydrogen for PEM fuel cells.

Abstract: Highly reactive, stable tetramanganese-oxo cubane complexes, their synthesis and their use as a functional catalyst for in vitro O2 production. Preferred complexes are i) a tetramanganese-oxo cubane complex having the formula L6Mn4O4, wherein Mn4O4, is a cubane core and L6 are six facially-capping bidentate ligands bridging between the Mn atoms; ii) a manganese-oxo-pyramid complex having the formula L6Mn4O3, wherein Mn4O3, is a pyramidal core and L6 are six bidentate ligands bridging between the Mn atoms; and iii) a manganese-oxo-butterfly complex having the formula L6Mn4O2 or L5Mn4O2, wherein Mn4O2, is a butterfly core and L6or L5 are six or five bidentate ligands bridging between the Mn atoms. Preferred ligands are carboxylate, phosphinate or diphenylphosphinate ligands. These catalysts may be used for the oxidation of water to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide and may also be used to catalyze the oxidation of chloride and simple chloride compounds to chlorine gas.