Abstract: A composition of matter useful for catalyzing an alkene epoxidation reaction using molecular oxygen (O2) as an oxidant. including a plurality of structures comprising nanostructures or microstructures each comprising a coinage metal: and a plurality of single oxophilic metal atoms. The oxophilic metal is characterized by an oxide formation enthalpy being more exothermic than that of the coinage metal. In one or more examples. the oxophilic atom comprises nickel and the coinage metal comprises silver, and a concentration of the nickel increases selectivity to greater than 85% for the epoxidation reaction CH2?CH2+½O2?(CH2)2O over combustion of ethylene forming carbon dioxide. and for an ethylene conversion of greater than 5%.

Abstract: Repolyols can be quickly produced by combining fragments of a polyurethane product which with a reagent which is an organic acid or an anhydride of the organic acid or a mixture thereof to form a reaction mixture, and heating the reaction mixture to a reaction temperature greater than a melting point of the reagent for a reaction time of no greater than two hours. The organic acid comprises two carboxylic acid groups linked to each other through a linking group having two or three carbon atoms in the linking chain. The anhydride can include a 5 or 6 member cyclic structure with the group —C(O)—O—C(O)—.

Abstract: Catalysts containing a support and a metal oxide, and reactors and methods of using the catalysts in a carbonylation reaction, such as alcohol carbonylation and ester carbonylation, are described herein. The support is typically chemically inert and has a high surface area. The metal oxide typically contains a transition metal or a mixture of metals, such as rhenium, aluminum, tungsten, molybdenum, or a combination thereof. Typically, the metal oxide is mainly atomically dispersed on the surface of the support, as indicated by STEM. For example, at least 10% of the metal oxide is atomically dispersed on the surface of the support. The method includes (i) exposing a mixture of one or more alcohols or one or more esters and carbon monoxide to the catalyst. Typically, the one or more alcohols or one or more esters and carbon monoxide are in a gas phase.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for converting biomass into a fuel additive, the method comprising: liquefying the biomass to form a liquor; neutralizing the liquor; precipitating lignin out of the liquor; extracting furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from the liquor; and hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) the extracted furfurals over a Cu—Ni/TiO2 catalyst. The catalyst for hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to methylated furans comprises copper-nickel (Cu—Ni) particles supported on titanium dioxide (TiO2), and wherein the copper-nickel particles form core-shell structures in which copper (Cu) is enriched at a surface of the catalyst.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for converting biomass into a fuel additive, the method comprising: liquefying the biomass to form a liquor; neutralizing the liquor; precipitating lignin out of the liquor; extracting furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from the liquor; and hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) the extracted furfurals over a Cu—Ni/TiO2 catalyst. The catalyst for hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to methylated furans comprises copper-nickel (Cu—Ni) particles supported on titanium dioxide (TiO2), and wherein the copper-nickel particles form core-shell structures in which copper (Cu) is enriched at a surface of the catalyst.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catalytic method of converting alkenes to epoxides. This method generally includes reacting alkenes with oxygen in the presence of a specific silver catalyst under conditions suitable to produce a yield of the epoxides. The specific silver catalyst is a silver nanocrystal having a plurality of surface planes, a substantial portion of which is defined by Miller indices of (100). The reaction is performed by charging a suitable reactor with this silver catalyst and then feeding the reactants to the reactor under conditions to carry out the reaction. The reaction may be performed in batch, or as a continuous process that employs a recycle of any unreacted alkenes. The specific silver catalyst has unexpectedly high selectivity for epoxide products. Consequently, this general method (and its various embodiments) will result in extraordinarily high epoxide yields heretofore unattainable.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catalytic method of converting alkenes to epoxides. This method generally includes reacting alkenes with oxygen in the presence of a specific silver catalyst under conditions suitable to produce a yield of the epoxides. The specific silver catalyst is a silver nanocrystal having a plurality of surface planes, a substantial portion of which is defined by Miller indices of (100). The reaction is performed by charging a suitable reactor with this silver catalyst and then feeding the reactants to the reactor under conditions to carry out the reaction. The reaction may be performed in batch, or as a continuous process that employs a recycle of any unreacted alkenes. The specific silver catalyst has unexpectedly high selectivity for epoxide products. Consequently, this general method (and its various embodiments) will result in extraordinarily high epoxide yields heretofore unattainable.