Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for improving or optimizing a catalyst for the preparation of phthalic anhydride by gas-phase oxidation of o-xylene and/or naphthalene, which comprises the following steps: a) provision of a starting catalyst (C) comprising at least one first catalyst zone located towards the gas inlet and a second catalyst zone located closer to the gas outlet, with the catalyst zones preferably each having an active composition comprising TiO2; b) replacement of part of the first catalyst zone by an upstream zone of a catalyst having a higher activity than the first catalyst zone in order to provide an improved catalyst. Furthermore, an improved catalyst obtainable by this process is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a catalyst for the catalytic combustion of hydrocarbons, in particular methane, wherein: a hexaaluminate of the formula MO.6Al2O3, where M is at least one alkaline earth metal and the at least one alkaline earth metal and the aluminum can also be partly replaced by at least one other metal, is prepared; and the hexaaluminate is milled to an average particle size D50 of less than 3 ?m. The invention further relates to a catalyst as can be obtained by the process of the invention, a catalytic burner containing the catalyst and a fuel cell arrangement comprising the catalytic burners.

Abstract: There is disclosed a plate-shaped pressed body (wafer) produced from an inorganic sorbent and a binder, having a thickness of less than 700 ?m, which is produced by the process of compressing a mixture of the inorganic sorbent, the binder, and optionally water and compression aids at a pressure of at least 70 MPa, wherein the weight ratio of dry sorbent to dry binder is between about 4 and 0.7 and the water content of the mixture, measured at 160° C., is between 8 and 20%; and calcining the resulting pressed body at temperatures of at least about 500° C., until the water content is substantially removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the sorption of at least one nucleic acid molecule from a liquid medium, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a liquid medium comprising at least one nucleic acid molecule; (b) providing a layer comprising at least one acid-activated phyllosilicate, where the layer is permeable by the liquid medium, and the layer thickness is at least 1 mm; (c) passing the liquid medium with the at least one nucleic acid molecule from step (a) through the layer from step (b) for sorption of the at least one nucleic acid molecule in the layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a testing device for tube bundle reactors, with a multitude of tubes (22) arranged as a bundle. At least one probe (12) is movably mounted in or on the testing device (10) and has, in particular, a drive (32) for its movement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to carbon-carbon composite material comprising a carbonaceous carrier and nanosize carbon structures (e.g. CNT or CNF), wherein the nanosize carbon structures are grown on the carbonaceous carrier. The carrier may be porous, as in activated carbon or consists of carbon black particles. In accordance with the invention, nanocarbon growth in the pores of porous carriers can be realized. The process for the manufacture of a this carbon-carbon-composite material comprises the steps of treating a carbonaceous carrier material with a metal-containing catalyst material, said metal being capable of forming nanosize carbon structures, and growing nanosize carbon structures by means of a CVD (chemical vapour deposition) method on the treated carrier in a gas atmosphere comprising a carbon-containing gas, followed by an optional surface modification step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a catalyst comprising a porous support and at least one active metal, which comprises providing a porous support which has a specific BET surface area of at least 500 m2/g and is transparent to an activating radiation, applying at least one active metal precursor which comprises at least one active metal and at least one group which is bound via a ligator atom selected from among oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon to the active metal atom to the porous support so as to produce an adduct which comprises the porous support and the at least one active metal precursor; and illuminating the adduct with the activating radiation to convert the at least one active metal into its reduced form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of processing an acid suspension containing at least one solid, wherein (a) the suspension containing at least one solid is mixed with an alkali metal silicate solution, the pH of the mixture being adjusted to a pH of more than 4, and (b) the resulting precipitate which contains the alkali metal silicate and the at least one solid is separated and optionally washed, dried and ground. The mixture according to (a) after aging may be acidified further by the addition of an acid. Furthermore, there are disclosed an adsorbent obtainable according to the preceding process, and the use thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing highly porous layers, which comprises making available a substrate having a substrate surface; modifying at least sections of the substrate surface so as to produce surface-modified sections in which anchor groups for metal ions are provided; applying at least one MOF to the surface-modified sections of the substrate so as to produce a layer of the MOF. The invention further relates to a composite comprising a substrate and a porous layer of an MOF located on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of nanocrystalline hydrotalcite compounds comprising the steps: introduction of one or more starting compounds into a reaction chamber by means of a carrier fluid, subjecting the starting compound(s) in a treatment zone to a pulsating thermal treatment at a temperature of 250 to 400° C., formation of nanocrystalline metal-oxide particles, discharging of the nanocrystalline hydrotalcite particles from the reactor, wherein the starting compound(s) are introduced into the reaction chamber in the form of a solution, slurry, suspension or in solid aggregate state, and a nanocrystalline hydrotalcite material obtainable by the process according to the invention and its use as an adsorption and catalyst material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing lithium metal phosphates of a formula LiMPO4, wherein M is at least one type of bivalent metal, preferably selected from the first transition metal range. The inventive method consists in reacting a lithium phosphate with a metal salt and an acid phosphate source in a polar solvent for converting into a corresponding M-containing phosphate, in adding a basic lithium source for obtaining a precursor mixture for a desired lithium metal phosphate, in converting and separating the thus obtained mixture, preferably in hydrothermal conditions, in such a way that a desired final product is obtained, thereby receiving a lithium-containing filtrate. The addition of the basic lithium source initiates a lithium ion precipitation in the form of a lithium phosphate. The thus obtainable lithium phosphate can be reused in the form of a raw material, whereby said cycle enables lithium to be highly reusable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst with large surface area structure, in particular for steam-reforming catalysts, which is characterised in that the large surface area structure is formed of a large number of round or parallel penetrating holes of polygonal cross-section, wherein the catalyst carrier is prepared in the injection moulding process, coated with a washcoat and then impregnated with the active component. The catalyst carrier includes at least one sinterable material and has a lateral pressure resistance of at least 700 N. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of such catalysts and the use thereof in a reactor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for obtaining white sugar from sugar cane by treating the crude sugar juice with acid activated bentonite selected from the group of smectites, whereby the acid activated bentonite mixture replaces the traditional environmental unfriendly sulfitation process, wherein the mineral bentonite together with aluminium and iron sulfates, phosphoric and sulfuric acid and acid salt solutions allows to obtain a high quality white sugar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing Cu/Zn/Al catalysts. In this process, the metals are used in the form of their formates and are precipitated in a suitable form. Suitable precipitants are, for example, alkali metal carbonates. The invention further relates to a catalyst as can be obtained by the process according to the invention and to its use.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the enzymatic treatment of raw polymeric feedstock comprising the following steps: (a) preferably separation of soluble components from the raw polymeric feedstock, (b) treating the raw polymeric feedstock with an enzyme system in order to liberate defined soluble monomeric or oligomeric building blocks from the insoluble raw polymeric feedstock; and (c) separating the defined monomeric or oligomeric building blocks produced in step b) from the remainder of the raw polymeric feedstock. Preferably, the enzyme system used in step b) contains not more than 50%, preferably not more than 20%, more preferably not more than 10%, more preferably not more than 5%, more preferably not more than 2%, more preferably not more than 1% of other enzyme activities apart from the enzyme activity resulting in liberation of said defined monomeric or oligomeric building blocks from the raw polymeric feedstock according to step b).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for hydrogenating ketones, wherein the ketone is fed in a mixture with hydrogen to a catalyst bed which comprises a copper chromite catalyst which has a proportion of SiO2 as catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst for acid-catalyzed hydrocarbon conversions, in particular for the alkylation of olefins with isoparaffins, containing a crystalline zeolite with an SiO2—Al2O3 molar ratio of <10, the alkali cations of which are at least partially replaced by H+ ions and/or polyvalent cations, the residual concentration of alkali cations amounting to less than around 0.2% by weight, the concentration of the Bronsted centers, determined as a function of the pyridine chemisorbed on the catalyst surface, amounting to around 0.1 to 4 mmol/g of catalyst, and the ratio between the concentration of the acid centers of the Bronsted type (B) and of the Lewis type (L), expressed as the surface ratio of the absorption bands at 1540 ±5 cm?1 (B) and 1450 5 cm?1 (L) after heating to a temperature of 450° C amounting to around 1.4 or higher, is described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer of the formula (I) where R1 to R9 and the indices A, B, C, M, and N have the definitions stated in claim 1. The polymer of the invention is suitable in particular as a dispersant for pigments or fillers in paints.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing granules and to a granule obtained by the process. In the process, a clay material is used which has a specific surface area of more than 150 m2/g, a pore volume of more than 0.45 ml/g and a cation exchange capacity of more than 15 meq/100 g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylindrical catalyst body 1 which is characterized in that indentations are provided on the circumferential surface 3 of the catalyst body 1. These indentations are preferably configured as grooves 4 and webs 5 which run parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 of the catalyst body 1.