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: The invention is a method of dehydrogenating a hydrocarbon, especially an alkane, to form an unsaturated compound, especially an alkene, by contacting the alkane with a catalyst comprising a form of carbon which is catalytically active for the dehydrogenation reaction. The catalyst may be formed by passing a hydrocarbon over a metal compound at a temperature greater than 650° C.

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 method of using a catalyst comprises exposing a catalyst to at least one reactant in a chemical process. The catalyst comprises copper and a small pore molecular sieve having a maximum ring size of eight tetrahedral atoms. The chemical process undergoes at least one period of exposure to a reducing atmosphere. The catalyst has an initial activity and the catalyst has a final activity after the at least one period of exposure to the reducing atmosphere. The final activity is within 30% of the initial activity at a temperature between 200 and 500° C.

Abstract: A wall-flow filter for filtering particulate matter from a flowing exhaust gas comprises a catalyst for catalysing both the conversion of solid carbon in the particulate matter by oxygen and the selective reduction of oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust gas with a nitrogenous reductant, which catalyst comprising optionally stabilised ceria and at least one metal selected from (i) tungsten and (ii) both tungsten and iron.

Abstract: A method to improve NOx reduction in diesel engine exhausts by selective catalytic reduction using reductants comprising hydrocarbons, comprising passing the exhaust gases through a series of zones, said zones comprising a first zone in which a first catalyst is located that promotes HC SCR, to yield a first product gas; a second zone through which the first product gas is passed and in which a second catalyst is located that promotes the H2-promoted HC SCR reaction to produce a second product gas and a third zone through which the second product gas is passed and in which a third catalyst is located that promotes CO/H2 SCR to yield a final, NOx-depleted, exhaust gas, and admixing a reformate gas comprising CO and H2 with one or more of the exhaust gases, the first product gas and the second product gas. The use of the series of catalysts offers a sound alternative to urea-based SCR, without requiring a source and storage of urea.

Abstract: A wall-flow filter comprises a catalyst for converting oxides of nitrogen in the presence of a reducing agent, which wall-flow filter comprising an extruded solid body comprising: 10-95% by weight of at least one binder/matrix component; 5-90% by weight of a zeolitic molecular sieve, a non-zeolitic molecular sieve or a mixture of any two or more thereof; and 0-80% by weight optionally stabilised ceria, which catalyst comprising at least one metal, wherein: the at least one metal is present throughout the extruded solid body alone or in combination with: is also present in a higher concentration at a surface of the extruded solid body; is also carried in one or more coating layer(s) on a surface of the extruded solid body; or both.

Abstract: An oxidation catalyst comprises an extruded solid body comprising: 10-95% by weight of at least one binder/matrix component; 5-90% by weight of a zeolitic molecular sieve, a non-zeolitic molecular sieve or a mixture of any two or more thereof; and 0-80% by weight optionally stabilised ceria, which catalyst comprising at least one precious metal and optionally at least one non-precious metal, wherein: (i) a majority of the at least one precious metal is located at a surface of the extruded solid body; (ii) the at least one precious metal is carried in one or more coating layer(s) on a surface; (iii) at least one metal is present throughout the extruded solid body and in a higher concentration at a surface; (iv) at least one metal is present throughout the extruded solid body and in a coating layer(s) on a surface; or (v) a combination of (ii) and (iii).

Abstract: A three way catalyst comprises an extruded solid body comprising: 10-100% by weight of at least one binder/matrix component; 5-90% by weight of a zeolitic molecular sieve, a non-zeolitic molecular sieve or a mixture of any two or more thereof; and 0-80% by weight optionally stabilised ceria, which catalyst comprising at least one precious metal and optionally at least one non-precious metal, wherein: (i) the at least one precious metal is carried in one or more coating layer(s) on a surface of the extruded solid body; (ii) at least one metal is present throughout the extruded solid body and at least one precious metal is also carried in one or more coating layer(s) on a surface of the extruded solid body; or (iii) at least one metal is present throughout the extruded solid body, is present in a higher concentration at a surface of the extruded solid body and at least one precious metal is also carried in one or more coating layer(s) on the surface of the extruded solid body.

Abstract: A diesel engine having an inlet side and an outlet side provided with at least one inlet valve and one outlet valve per cylinder, comprises a reformer catalyst unit comprising a catalyst located downstream of the outlet valve(s) and located such that a proportion of the hot exhaust passes through the catalyst whilst the remainder of the hot exhaust passes to a turbocharger and/or to exhaust gas aftertreatment, wherein the catalyst unit is provided with diesel fuel supply means, preferably in the form of a diesel fuel injector, such that diesel fuel may be injected to provide heat to the reformer catalyst to raise it to an effective reforming temperature. The output from the reformer unit may be fed to the inlet side of the engine, and/or may be admixed with the remainder of the exhaust gases prior to catalytic aftertreatment. Improvements in emission control are possible.

Abstract: An exhaust gas treating system for a gasoline engine, comprising an exhaust gas manifold comprising an annular reforming catalyst mounted within an annular housing and fuel supply means in direct fluid connection with the catalyst, an outlet for reformed fuel products in direct fluid connection with the catalyst, and means to permit a proportion of the engine-out exhaust gases to enter the annular catalyst to mix with fuel from the fuel supply means and to pass through the catalyst, the annular housing being located such that hot engine-out exhaust gases can flow around and through the centre of the housing, such that heat is transferred from the exhaust gases to the catalyst within the housing. The reformate may be passed to the inlet side of the engine, to improve overall efficiency of the engine, and/or may be mixed with exhaust gas before catalytic aftertreatment, to improve the control of emissions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for hydrogenating a substrate comprising a carbon-heteroatom double bond, the process comprising the step of reacting the substrate with hydrogen gas in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the hydrogenation catalyst is a complex of formula (I): R1-10, A and Hal are as defined in the specification. The present invention also provides processes for the preparation of the complex of formula (I) and intermediates thereof.

Abstract: A mercury absorbent comprising a metal sulphide, a support material, a first binder and a second binder, wherein the first binder is a cement binder and the second binder is a high aspect ratio binder having an aspect ratio >2. A mercury removal process comprises contacting a mercury containing feed stream with the absorbent.

Abstract: A catalyst charge for ammonia oxidation, including the Andrussow process, comprises a first stage ammonia oxidation catalyst capable of oxidizing 20 to 99% of designed ammonia throughput, to produce a first stage product gas comprising unreacted ammonia, oxygen and nitrogen oxides, and a second stage ammonia oxidation catalyst capable of completing the oxidation of unreacted ammonia. Low levels of nitrous oxide are produced an extended campaign lengths may be seen.

Abstract: A method for converting a supported metal nitrate into the corresponding supported metal oxide comprises heating the metal nitrate to effect its decomposition under a gas mixture that contains nitric oxide and has an oxygen content of <5% by volume. The method provides very highly dispersed metal oxide on the support material. The metal oxide is useful as a catalyst or as a catalyst precursor.

Abstract: A NOx absorber catalyst comprising an extruded solid body comprises either: (A) 10-95% by weight of at least one binder/matrix component; and 5-90% by weight of a zeolitic molecular sieve, a non-zeolitic molecular sieve or a mixture of any two or more thereof, which catalyst comprising at least one metal comprising (a) at least one precious metal; and (b) at least one alkali metal or at least one alkaline earth metal, wherein (a) and (b) are carried in one or more coating layer(s) on a surface of the extruded solid body; or (B) 10-95% by weight of at least one binder/matrix component; and 5-80% by weight optionally stabilised ceria, which catalyst comprising at least one metal comprising (a) at least one precious metal; and (b) at least one alkali metal or at least one alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of a Pd(0)Ln complex, where L is a ligand and n is 2, 3 or 4, comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a Pd(II) complex in at least one solvent with a base and ligand L; and (b) if required, adding further base, optionally in at least one solvent, to form the Pd(0)Ln complex; wherein the at least one solvents in steps a and b are independently the same or different, and provided that when n=2, the Pd(II) complex is not bis[tri(ortho-tolyl)phosphine] palladium chloride. The invention also provides novel Pd(0)L2 and Pd(II) complexes.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a supported metal nitrate, suitable as a precursor for a catalyst or sorbent, includes the steps of: (i) impregnating a support material with a metal nitrate, (ii) optionally drying the impregnated material at low temperature, and (iii) exposing the impregnated material to a gas mixture comprising nitric oxide at a temperature in the range 0-150° C., to form a dispersed supported metal nitrate. The metal nitrate may subsequently be converted to the corresponding oxide by calcining the metal nitrate to effect its decomposition. Preferred metals are iron, ruthenium, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, nickel, palladium, platinum, copper or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A sol includes metal oxide nanoparticles dispersed in an aqueous liquid, and further includes stabilizer ions. The metal oxide particles include one or more metals selected from a first group consisting of cerium, zirconium, iron, manganese and titanium, and one or more metals selected from a second group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium. The sols can be used to deposit catalytic coatings onto catalyst substrates, including substrates with narrow channels (i.e. channels with a diameter of less than 500 ?m).

Abstract: A platinum alloy catalyst PtX, wherein the atomic percent of platinum in the bulk alloy is from 5 to 50 at %, the remaining being X, characterised in that the atomic percent of platinum at the surface of the alloy is from 10 to 80 at %, the remainder being X, provided that the at % of platinum at the surface of the alloy is at least 25% greater than the at % of platinum in the bulk alloy is disclosed.