Abstract: Process for the preparation of quasi-crystalline boehmite comprising the steps of: (a) preparing an aqueous precursor mixture comprising a water-insoluble aluminum source; (b) decreasing the pH of the precursor mixture of step (a) by at least 2 units; (c) increasing the pH of the mixture of step (b) by at least 2 units, and (d) aging the mixture of step (c) under hydrothermal conditions to form a quasi-crystalline boehmite. This process provides for the hydrothermal preparation of quasi-crystalline boehmites with high peptizability. The invention therefore further relates to quasi-crystalline boehmites with a high peptizability, measured as the Z-average submicron particle size. This Z-average submicron particle size preferably is less than 500 nm, more preferably less than 300 nm, even more preferably less than 200 nm, and most preferably less than 100 nm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of alkyl esters of carboxylic acids for use as biodiesel starting from the reaction of transesterification of triglycerides originating from oils and fats of vegetable or animal origin, which can be used individually or in mixtures with one another in any proportions, employing heterogeneous catalysis by means of protonated lamellar titanate catalysts in nanostructured form, and said forms can comprise, among in other forms, nanotubes, nanofibres or nanosheets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of alkyl esters of carboxylic acids for use as biodiesel starting from the reaction of transesterification of triglycerides originating from oils and fats of vegetable or animal origin, which can be used individually or in mixtures with one another in any proportions, employing heterogeneous catalysis by means of protonated lamellar titanate catalysts in nanostructured form, and said forms can comprise, among in other forms, nanotubes, nanofibres or nanosheets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cracking catalyst composition comprising a physical mixture of 10-90 weight % of a cracking catalyst A and 90-10 weight % of a cracking catalyst B, whereby catalyst A is a zeolite-containing cracking catalyst, and catalyst B is a catalyst having a higher average pore volume in the pore diameter range of 20-200 Å than catalyst A in the same pore diameter range and not containing M41S material. These compositions can suitably used for the fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feeds with high metal concentrations.