Abstract: A titania catalyst support having a particle size distribution with a first peak at a first particle size and a second peak at a second particle size, wherein the second particle size is at least 50% larger than the first particle size. A method of manufacture is also disclosed. The support and resulting catalyst can be used for catalysing a Fischer-Tropsch reaction.

Abstract: A multitubular fixed bed reactor suitable for carrying out a catalytic process is described. There actor includes a plurality of reactor tubes, one or more of which include a fixed bed of catalyst and is/are at least partially surrounded by a heat transfer medium, preferably a cooling medium, wherein the one or more reactor tubes include at least one insert, especially a heat transfer insert and/or a pressure drop decreasing insert. Preferably the tubes are elongate, and preferably the inserts are elongate. The inserts may not extend the full length of their respective tube or tubes. The inserts may extend partly, substantially or wholly along the length of the relevant tube(s). All the tubes of the reactor may include a heat transfer and insert.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing a sulphur cement product comprising the following steps: (a) selectively oxidising hydrogen sulphide to elemental sulphur by contacting, in a reaction zone, a hydrogen sulphide containing feed gas and a molecular-oxygen containing gas with a particulate oxidation catalyst under selective oxidation conditions; (b) discharging a stream comprising liquid and/or solid elemental sulphur and particulate oxidation catalyst from the reaction zone; (c) admixing the stream comprising elemental sulphur and particulate oxidation catalyst with at least any one of elemental sulphur, a sulphur cement filler, a sulphur cement modifier, or aggregate at a temperature at which sulphur is molten; (d) solidifying the mixture obtained in step (c) by cooling it to a temperature below the melting temperature of sulphur to obtain the sulphur cement product.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the preparation of hydrocarbons and the generation of heat involving i) introducing a gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen into a first reactor section having catalyst and introducing cooling fluid into this first reactor section; ii) allowing a part of the carbon monoxide to react catalytically in the first reactor section to hydrocarbons and water, at least part of the reaction heat being absorbed directly by the cooling-fluid; iii) withdrawing from the reactor section a stream consisting of the reaction product containing the hydrocarbons, water, unconverted feed and cooling fluid; iv) cooling down at least a part of the withdrawn stream containing cooling fluid to generate heat; v) optionally removing water from the withdrawn stream, and, vi) repeating at least once steps I-v with the stream obtained in step v in further reactor section(s). The invention further relates to a reactor suitable for carrying out the above process.