Abstract: A combination comprising a bed of a particulate copper-containing catalyst and, a guard bed of a particulate composition containing a) lead and/or at least one lead compound that reacts with hydrogen chloride and b) a support therefor. The lead compound is preferably lead nitrate. The combination is of particular utility for the low temperature shift reaction wherein carbon monoxide is reacted with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: An axial/radial—or radial/flow catalytic reactor has inlet and outlet ports and a bed of particulate catalyst disposed as e.g. a cylinder or cone round acentral region communicating with one of the ports. For at least part of the height of the catalyst bed, the exterior surface of the catalyst bed has a diameter less than that of the reactor thus leaving space between the exterior surface of the catalyst bed and the interior walls of the reactor. This space is filled with a particulate material presenting less resistance to flow than the catalyst particles.

Abstract: The density of a mass of material is determined by passing radiation from a source, such as Co-60, whose radiation spectrum has a characteristic energy level above 700 keV through the mass of material to a detector that can detect radiation at a energy level, or range of energy levels, within the range 80 to 700 keV. By determining the density of the mass of material at different locations, the density profile of the mass of material can be assessed.

Abstract: An axial/radial—or radial/flow catalytic reactor has inlet and outlet ports and a bed of particulate catalyst disposed as e.g. a cylinder or cone round a central region communicating with one of the ports. For at least part of the height of the catalyst bed, the exterior surface of the catalyst bed has a diameter less than that of the reactor thus leaving space between the exterior surface of the catalyst bed and the interior walls of the reactor. This space is filled with a particulate material presenting less resistance to flow than the catalyst particles.

Abstract: A catalyst or precursor thereto comprising cobalt and/or a cobalt compound on a transition alumina support having a total cobalt content of at least 41% by weight and a cobalt surface area, after reduction, greater than 25 m2 per gram of total cobalt. The catalyst or precursor may be made by slurrying a transition alumina powder having a pore volume of at least 0.7 ml/g with an aqueous cobalt ammine carbonate complex and heating the slurry to decompose the complex.

Abstract: Ionic liquids are immobilized on a functionalized support which carries or contains one component of the ionic liquid, or a precursor to such a component. The ionic liquid may be immobilized via the anion by treating a support with an anion source, e.g., an inorganic halide, before the ionic liquid is applied or formed. Alternatively, the ionic liquid may be immobilized by having the cation covalently bound to the support, e.g., through silyl groups, or incorporated in the support by synthesizing the support in the presence of a suitable base. The immobilized ionic liquids are of use as catalysts, for example, for the Friedel-Crafts reaction, such as alkylation reaction.

Abstract: A catalyst or precursor thereto comprising cobalt and/or a cobalt compound on a transition alumina support having a total cobalt content of at least 41% by weight and a cobalt surface area, after reduction, greater than 25 m2 per gram of total cobalt. The catalyst or precursor may be made by slurrying a transition alumina powder having a pore volume of at least 0.7 ml/g with an aqueous cobalt ammine carbonate complex and heating the slurry to decompose the complex.

Abstract: A catalyst or precursor thereto comprising cobalt and/or a cobalt compound on a transition alumina support having a total cobalt content of at least 41% by weight and a cobalt surface area, after reduction, greater than 25 m2 per gram of total cobalt. The catalyst or precursor may be made by slurrying a transition alumina powder having a pore volume of at least 0.7 ml/g with an aqueous cobalt ammine carbonate complex and heating the slurry to decompose the complex.

Abstract: A catalyst for oxidation reactions, particularly the oxidation of ammonia comprises oxides of (a) at least one element A selected from rare earths and yttrium, and (b) cobalt and element A being in such proportions that the element A to cobalt atomic ratio is in the range 0.8 to 1.2, at least some of said cobalt and element A oxides being present as a mixed oxide phase with less than 25% of the cobalt (by atoms) being present as free cobalt oxides, is disclosed. The catalyst may be supported on a secondary support in the form of an alkali-free alumina or lanthana wash coat on a primary support in the form of a mesh, gauze, pad, or monolith formed from a high temperature iron/aluminum alloy or a mesh, gauze, pad, monolith, or foam of a ceramic material.

Abstract: A catalyst and method for performing a Michael addition reaction between a &bgr;-dicarbonyl compound with a cyclic or acyclic enone, where the catalyst comprises a substituted or unsubstituted lanthanum-linked BINOL complex, e.g. a (R,R)-La-linked-BINOL complex (I), are described. The catalyst is stable in air, is readily separated from the reaction mixtures and may be reused if desired.

Abstract: Copper/alumina compositions for use as, e.g., catalysts are made by impregnating a porous transition alumina support with an aqueous solution of a copper ammine carbonate complex, draining off any excess of the impregnating solution, and then heating the impregnated support to a temperature above 80° C. to decompose the complex, thereby depositing a basic copper carbonate compound on the surfaces of the pores of the transition alumina support. After reduction, the composition has a high copper surface area, expressed per unit weight of copper in the composition.

Abstract: Production of unsaturated ketones by the aldol condensation of ketones such as acetone or methyl ethyl ketone by contacting the ketone in the vapor phase with a particulate catalyst comprising at least one basic alkali metal compound supported on an inert substrate at a temperature above 175° C. The produce ketones may be hydrogenated to form saturated ketones or alcohols.

Abstract: Copper/alumina compositions for uses as e.g. catalysts are made by impregnating a porous transition alumina support with an aqueous solution of a copper ammine carbonate complex, draining off any excess of the impregnating solution, and then heating the impregnated support to a temperature above 80° C. to decompose the complex thereby depositing a basic copper carbonate compound on the surfaces of the pores of transition alumina support. After reduction, the composition has a high copper surface area, expressed per unit weight of copper in the composition.

Abstract: A particulate catalyst suitable for the hydrogenation of fats or oils containing 5 to 75% by weight of nickel may be made by slurrying a transition alumina powder having a surface-weighted mean diameter D[3,2] in the range 1 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m with an aqueous solution of a nickel ammine complex, followed by heating to deposit an insoluble nickel compound and then reducing the latter. Catalysts containing up to about 55% by weight of nickel have a nickel surface area above 130 m2/g of nickel. Catalysts having greater nickel contents made using alumina having an average pore diameter above 12 &mgr;m may have a lower nickel surface area but are surprisingly active and selective.

Abstract: A density profiler for measuring a density profile of a medium including at least two liquids and gaseous phases includes an axially distributed source array providing at least 10 collimated ionising radiation beams; an axially distributed radiation detector array, each detector associated in use with one of the beams and producing an output signal in response to incident radiation; and an analysor for the detector output signals to determine the density of the medium traversed by the beams of radiation.

Abstract: A catalyst or precursor thereto comprising cobalt and/or a cobalt compound on a transition alumina support having a total cobalt content of at least 41% by weight and a cobalt surface area, after reduction, greater than 25 m2 per gram of total cobalt. The catalyst or precursor may be made by slurrying a transition alumina powder having a pore volume of at least 0.7 ml/g with an aqueous cobalt ammine carbonate complex and heating the slurry to decompose the complex.

Abstract: Production of synthesis gas for use for synthesising carbon-containing compounds, typically having a hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio of about 2 and a low carbon dioxide content, by primary reforming a gaseous mixture containing hydrocarbons, 0.6 to 2 moles of steam per gram atom of hydrocarbon and 0.2 to 0.6 moles of recycled carbon dioxide per gram atom of hydrocarbon, in a heat exchange reformer and then secondary reforming the resultant primary reformed gas, heating the heat exchange reformer with the resultant secondary reformed gas; cooling and condensing steam from the secondary reformed gas to give a de-watered gas stream having a carbon dioxide content below 20% by volume. The recycled carbon dioxide is recovered from the de-watered gas stream, before or after use thereof for the synthesis reaction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst for cleaning the exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, especially diesel engines, comprising a monolithic body having longitudinally extending, open throughchannels coated with a surface-enlarging washcoat layer which contains one or more catalytically active precious metals. In order to reduce the tendency of the catalyst to oxidize and absorb (be enriched with) sulphur dioxide, the washcoat layer of the catalyst is based on silicon carbide and is substantially free from aluminum oxide. A method for preparing the catalyst, the use of the catalyst, as well as an exhaust gas cleaning system and a motor vehicle equipped with the catalyst, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The hydrocarbon light-off time in engine exhaust is reduced by employing a hydrogen oxidation catalyst, a CO oxidation catalyst of light-off temperature for CO and/or hydrogen below ambient temperature, and sufficient oxygen and sufficient CO and/or hydrogen in the exhaust that the exothermic reaction of the oxygen with the CO and/or hydrogen over the CO oxidation catalyst generates enough heat to raise the temperature of the CO oxidation catalyst to at least the light-off temperature of the hydrocarbon oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane comprising the bisacylation of an acyclic diamine to obtain a dichlorodiamide compound in a first step, the cyclization of said diamide compound to obtain dioxocyclam in a second step, and the reduction of dioxocyclam in a third step to obtain the desired 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane.