Abstract: A method for preparing a catalyst comprising (i) preparing a calcined shaped calcium aluminate catalyst support, (ii) treating the calcined shaped calcium aluminate support with water, and then drying the support, (iii) impregnating the dried support with a solution containing one or more metal compounds and drying the impregnated support, (iv) calcining the dried impregnated support, to form metal oxide on the surface of the support and (v) optionally repeating steps (ii), (iii) and (iv) on the metal oxide coated support. The method provides an eggshell catalyst in which the metal oxide is concentrated in an outer layer on the support.

Abstract: A photonic device is manufactured by: (i) providing (e.g. by inkjet printing) an aliquot of a liquid crystal (LC) material; and (ii) depositing the aliquot onto the surface of a flowable material layer to form a liquid crystal deposit, the flowable material and the LC material being substantially immiscible. The liquid crystal deposit adopts a deformed shape relative to the shape of the aliquot due to interaction with the flowable material layer. This promotes alignment of the LC material. Incorporation of a laser dye allows the photonic device to function as a laser, which can be operated above or below threshold depending on the circumstances. The photonic device can also be used as a passive device based on the photonic bandgap of the aligned LC material.

Abstract: A method is described for preparing a catalyst including the steps of: (i) impregnating a calcined support comprising a metal aluminate with a solution of nickel acetate at a temperature ?40° C. and drying the impregnated support, (ii) calcining the dried impregnated support, to form nickel oxide on the surface of the support and (iii) optionally repeating steps (i) and (ii) on the nickel oxide coated support. The method provides an eggshell catalyst in which the metal oxide is concentrated in an outer layer on the support.

Abstract: A method for preparing a silica-modified catalyst support is described including: (I) applying an alkyl silicate to the surface of a porous support material in an amount to produce a silica content of the silica-modified catalyst support, expressed as Si, in the range 0.25 to 15% by weight, (ii) optionally drying the resulting silicate-modified support, (iii) treating the support with water, (iv) drying the resulting water-treated support, and (v) calcining the dried material to form the silica-modified catalyst support.

Abstract: Described herein are flexible seals for directing fluid flow in a tubular reactor, such as a reformer, for enhancing heat transfer and reactor efficiency. The seals can be made of corrugated metal foil that is expandable in the radial direction for accommodating the expansion and contraction of reactor components in the tubular reactor during operation. The seals can block or redirect fluid flow through the reactor. Fluid is directed to the interior of the reactor by the seals and bypass around the outer circumference of the reactor components is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A method for installing a monitoring device with the simultaneous loading of a particulate catalyst into a vertical catalyst tube includes (i) introducing a monitoring device into the tube, (ii) introducing monitoring device alignment apparatus into the tube, (iii) introducing catalyst loading apparatus into the tube, (iv) loading catalyst particles into the top of the tube whereinafter they contact said catalyst loading apparatus as they pass down the tube, forming a uniform bed of catalyst beneath said catalyst loading apparatus and alignment apparatus and around said monitoring device, and (v) simultaneously removing the catalyst loading apparatus and alignment apparatus from the catalyst tube in timed relationship to the catalyst loading. The monitoring device alignment apparatus includes a ring member and two or more spacing members affixed to the ring member such that the ring member and the monitoring device are centrally positioned within the tube.

Abstract: A catalyst including gold, or a compound thereof, and sulphur, a compound of sulphur, trichloroisocyanuric acid or a metal dichloroisocyanurate on a support, together with a process for manufacturing the catalyst and its use in a chemical process are described.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a catalyst composition comprises the steps of (i) precipitating one or more metal compounds from solution using an alkaline precipitant, preferably comprising an alkaline carbonate, optionally in the presence of a thermostabilising material, ii) ageing the precipitated composition, and (iii) recovering and drying the aged composition, wherein the ageing step is performed using a pulse-flow reactor.

Abstract: The catalyst of the invention is a particulate catalyst in the form of particles having a minimum dimension of at least 0.8 mm, including a transition metal or a compound thereof dispersed on a porous support material, characterized in that said catalyst particles comprise at least 35% w/w total transition metal; and the transition metal surface area of said catalyst is at least 110 m2 per gram of transition metal and the tapped bulk density of a bed of the catalyst particles is at least 0.7 g/ml. The method of making a catalyst includes multiple steps of impregnation of a porous support with a metal ammine solution followed by drying, calcination and reduction of the dried material. The catalyst is useful in hydrogenation reactions.

Abstract: A method for preparing 1-adamantyltrimethylammonium hydroxide is disclosed. The method comprises reacting 1-adamantyldimethylamine with dimethyl carbonate to produce 1-adamantyltrimethylammonium methylcarbonate, which is then reacted with calcium hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide in the presence of water to produce 1-adamantyltrimethylammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: A process for increasing the hydrogen content of a synthesis gas including hydrogen and carbon oxides and having a carbon monoxide content ?45 mole % on a dry-gas basis, including the steps of: (i) combining the synthesis gas with steam to form a steam-enriched feed gas mixture (ii) passing the feed gas mixture at an inlet temperature in the range 220-370° C. over an iron-based water-gas shift catalyst to form a hydrogen-enriched shifted gas mixture having a carbon monoxide content 10 mole % on a dry gas basis, and (iii) recovering the hydrogen-enriched shifted gas mixture, where a portion of the hydrogen-enriched shifted gas mixture is recycled to the feed gas mixture.

Abstract: A method of making a filter for filtering particulate matter from exhaust gas emitted from a lean-burn internal combustion engine, which filter comprising a porous substrate having inlet surfaces and outlet surfaces, wherein the inlet surfaces are separated from the outlet surfaces by a porous structure containing pores of a first mean pore size, wherein the inlet surfaces comprise a bridge network comprising interconnected particles of refractory material over the pores of the porous structure, which method comprising the step of contacting inlet surfaces of the filter substrate with an aerosol comprising refractory material in dry powder form. The invention also relates to a filter obtainable by such method.

Abstract: A process is described for treating a natural gas stream containing methane and one or more higher hydrocarbons including the steps of mixing at least a portion of the natural gas stream with steam; passing the mixture adiabatically over a supported precious metal reforming catalyst to generate a reformed gas mixture comprising methane, steam, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; cooling the reformed gas mixture to below the dew point to condense water and removing the condensate to provide a de-watered reformed gas mixture, and passing the de-watered reformed gas mixture through an acid gas recovery unit to remove carbon dioxide and at least a portion of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide, thereby generating a methane stream. The methane stream may be used to adjust the composition of a natural gas stream, including a vapourised LNG stream, to meet pipeline specifications.

Abstract: A method for producing a catalyst using an additive layer method includes: (i) forming a layer of a powdered catalyst or catalyst support material, (ii) binding or fusing the powder in said layer according to a predetermined pattern, (iii) repeating (i) and (ii) layer upon layer to form a shaped unit, and (iv) optionally applying a catalytic material to said shaped unit.

Abstract: A catalytic aftertreatment system for a diesel engine exhaust gas is described. The system comprises a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and an aftertreatment device located downstream of the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), which aftertreatment device requires periodic heat treatment, and means to generate a temperature increase within the aftertreatment device, said diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) comprising an upstream zone of length from 0.5 to 2 inches (12.7-50.81 mm) of higher oxidation activity for hydrocarbons (HC) than the remainder of the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC).

Abstract: The invention is a process for the production of a hydrocarbon product including contacting an oxygenated aromatic feedstock, in the presence of hydrogen, with a catalyst composition including: a) a metal hydrogenation catalyst and b) a solid acid catalyst which is active for the deoxygenation of oxygenated hydrocarbons. The process is useful for the conversion of pyrolysis oils and other products derived from biomass and plastics recycling etc, into fuels and chemical feedstocks.

Abstract: A catalyst structure suitable for use in an ammonia oxidation process is described including a plurality of shaped catalyst units supported on one or more members in a spaced relationship that allows the structure to flex.

Abstract: A substituted paracyclophane of formula (I) is provided wherein X1 and X2 are linking groups comprising between 2 to 4 carbon atoms, Y1 and Y2 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halide, oxygen, nitrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl and Z is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, aryl group or heteroaryl group. The substituted paracyclophane provides transition metal catalysts that are useful in C—C and C—N bond formation and asymmetric hydrogenation reactions.

Abstract: A method for preparing 1-adamantyltrimethylammonium methylcarbonate or N,N-dimethyl-3,5-dimethylpiperidinium methylcarbonate is disclosed. The method comprises reacting dimethyl carbonate and 3,5-dimethylpiperidine or a 1-adamantylamine compound and in the presence of water in a sealed vessel at a temperature of from 80 to 200° C. The 1-adamantylamine compound is 1-adamantylamine, 1-adamantylmethylamine, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method of tracing flow of hydrocarbon from a subterranean reservoir including forming a dispersion, injecting a hydraulic fracturing fluid containing the dispersion down a well penetrating a hydrocarbon reservoir, thereafter collecting a sample of hydrocarbon fluid flowing from the reservoir, and analyzing the sample to determine whether the tracer compound is present in the sample. The dispersion includes a discontinuous condensed phase having a hydrocarbon-soluble tracer compound and a continuous phase which includes an aqueous liquid.