Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing cut metal bodies, comprising the providing of metal bodies, the subsequent applying of metal-containing powders, a thermal treatment for alloy formation and the splitting of the alloyed metal bodies using a process selected from the group: severing, machining with geometrically defined cutting edge and waterjet cutting. The temperature profile in the thermal treatment allows alloy formation to take place at the contact surface between metal body and metal-containing powder, but at the same time leaving unalloyed regions in the interior of the metal body. The present invention further relates to processes in which the splitting of the alloyed metal bodies is followed by a treatment with leaching agent so as to obtain catalytically active metal bodies. The use of the inventive splitting process for producing the cut metal bodies affords particularly active catalysts.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor for industrial-scale hydrogenation processes is described. The catalytic reactor contains a catalytic fixed bed that comprises a support structure and a catalyst. During operation of the reaction in the catalytic reactor, the fixed bed is filled with reaction medium to at least 85% by volume. A very high contact area of the catalyst with the reaction medium is at the same time provided. The support structure is formed from material webs having a thickness of 5 to 25 ?m, with a crosslinking density of at least 3 mm?3 present. The support structure consists of metals selected from elements of groups 8, 6 and 11 of the periodic table of the elements and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a metal-foam body, comprising the steps of (a) providing a metal-foam body A, which consists of nickel, cobalt, copper, or alloys or combinations thereof, (b) applying an aluminum-containing material MP to metal-foam body A so as to obtain metal-foam body AX, (c) thermally treating of metal-foam body AX, with the exclusion of oxygen, to achieve the formation of an alloy between the metallic components of metal-foam body A and the aluminum-containing material MP so as to obtain metal-foam body B, wherein the duration of the thermal treatment is chosen in dependence on the temperature of the thermal treatment and the temperature of the thermal treatment is chosen in dependence on the thickness of the metal-foam body AX. The invention also relates to the metal-foam bodies obtainable by the methods according to the invention and to the use thereof as catalysts for chemical transformations.

Abstract: An open-pored metal body, which is formed having a core layer (A) consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Ag or an alloy formed having one of said chemical elements, wherein one of said chemical elements is present in the alloy at more than 25 at %, and a gradated layer (B) is formed on surfaces of the core layer (A), said gradated layer being formed by intermetallic phase or mixed crystals of Al, and a layer (C), which is formed having aluminum oxide, is formed on the gradated layer (B).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a metal-foam body, comprising the steps of (a) providing a metal-foam body A, which consists of nickel, cobalt, copper, or alloys or combinations thereof, (b) applying an aluminum-containing material MP to metal-foam body A so as to obtain metal-foam body AX, (c) thermally treating of metal-foam body AX, with the exclusion of oxygen, to achieve the formation of an alloy between the metallic components of metal-foam body A and the aluminum-containing material MP so as to obtain metal-foam body B, wherein the duration of the thermal treatment is chosen in dependence on the temperature of the thermal treatment and the temperature of the thermal treatment is chosen in dependence on the thickness of the metal-foam body AX. The invention also relates to the metal-foam bodies obtainable by the methods according to the invention and to the use thereof as catalysts for chemical transformations.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for producing supported catalysts, comprising: providing a metal foam element A made of nickel; applying an aluminum-containing powder MP to metal foam element A, such that metal foam element AX is obtained; thermally treating metal foam element AX in order to form an alloy between metal foam element A and the aluminum-containing powder MP, such that metal foam element B is obtained; oxidatively treating metal foam element B, such that metal foam element C is obtained; and applying a catalytically active layer, comprising at least one carrier oxide and at least one catalytically active component, to at least one part of the surface of metal foam element C, such that a supported catalyst is obtained. The invention also relates to the supported catalysts obtained according to the method, and to the use thereof in chemical transformations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing coated metal bodies by applying a metal powder composition to a metal body, such that a coated metal body is obtained, the coating of which contains one or more wax components; heating the coated metal body to the melting temperature of at least one of the wax components and subsequent cooling to room temperature, such that a coated metal body is obtained; and thermally treating the coated metal body in order to achieve alloy formation between metal portions of metal body and metal powder composition, wherein the metal body comprises nickel, cobalt, copper and/or iron and the metal powder composition comprises a metal component in powder form, which contains aluminium, silicon or magnesium in elemental or alloyed form. By melting and cooling the wax, the method makes metal bodies having a more uniform alloy coverage accessible. The invention furthermore relates to methods wherein the metal body is subsequently treated with a basic solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing supported catalysts, comprising: providing a metal foam element A, which consists of metallic cobalt, an alloy of nickel and cobalt, or an arrangement of layers of nickel and cobalt, lying one over the other; applying an aluminum-containing powder MP to metal foam element A in order to obtain metal foam element AX; thermally treating metal foam element AX to achieve alloy formation between metal foam element A and aluminum-containing powder MP, in order to obtain metal foam element B; oxidatively treating metal foam element B, in order to obtain metal foam element C; and applying a catalytically active layer, comprising at least one support oxide and at least one catalytically active component, to at least part of the surface of metal foam element C, in order to obtain a supported catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing C3-C12 alcohols by catalytically hydrogenating the corresponding aldehydes at a temperature in the range of 50-250° C. and a pressure in the range of 5-150 bar in the presence of a supported activated Raney-type catalyst, characterized in that the support body is a metal foam and the metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel and copper and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing 1,4-butanediol (BDO) by hydrogenating 2-butyne-1,4-diol (BYD) or 4-hydroxybutanal (4-HBA) in the presence of a catalyst of the Raney type having a porous foam structure, wherein the macroscopic pores have sizes in the range of 100 to 5000 ?m, and a bulk density of up to 0.8 kg/L.

Abstract: An open-pored metal body, which is formed having a core layer (A) consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Ag or an alloy formed having one of said chemical elements, wherein one of said chemical elements is present in the alloy at more than 25 at %, and a gradated layer (B) is formed on surfaces of the core layer (A), said gradated layer being formed by intermetallic phase or mixed crystals of Al, and a layer (C), which is formed having aluminum oxide, is formed on the gradated layer (B).

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing metal foam bodies, in which metal-containing powders that may comprise aluminium and chromium or molybdenum are applied to metal foam bodies that may comprise nickel, cobalt, copper and iron and then treated thermally, wherein the highest temperature in the thermal treatment of the metal foam bodies is in the range from 680 to 715° C., and wherein the total duration of the thermal treatment within the temperature range from 680 to 715° C. is between 5 and 240 seconds. Following this method of thermal treatment can achieve alloy formation at the contact surface between metal foam body and metal-containing powder, but simultaneously leave unalloyed regions within the metal foam. The present invention further comprises processes comprising the treatment of the alloyed metal foam bodies with basic solution.

Abstract: A catalytic reactor for industrial-scale hydrogenation processes is described. The catalytic reactor contains a catalytic fixed bed that comprises a support structure and a catalyst. During operation of the reaction in the catalytic reactor, the fixed bed is filled with reaction medium to at least 85% by volume. A very high contact area of the catalyst with the reaction medium is at the same time provided. The support structure is formed from material webs having a thickness of 5 to 25 ?m, with a crosslinking density of at least 3 mm?3 present. The support structure consists of metals selected from elements of groups 8, 6 and 11 of the periodic table of the elements and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixed bed of catalytically active metal foam bodies having a volume of not more than 500 mL which consist to an extent of at least 95 wt % of metals. The fixed bed is used for catalytic reactions in a three-phase reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing C3-C12 alcohols by catalytically hydrogenating the corresponding aldehydes at a temperature in the range of 50-250° C. and a pressure in the range of 5-150 bar in the presence of a supported activated Raney-type catalyst, characterized in that the support body is a metal foam and the metal is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel and copper and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metallic foam body, comprising (a) a metallic foam body substrate made of at least one metal or metal alloy A; and (b) a layer of a metal or metal alloy B present on at least a part of the surface of the metallic foam body substrate (a), wherein A and B differ in their chemical composition and/or in the grain size of the metal or metal alloy, and wherein the metal or metal alloy A and B is selected from a group consisting of Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, Ag, and any alloy thereof; obtainable by a process comprising the steps (i) provision of a porous organic polymer foam; (ii) deposition of at least one metal or metal alloy A on the porous organic polymer foam; (iii) burning off of the porous organic polymer foam to obtain the metallic foam body substrate (a); and (iv) deposition by electroplating of the metallic layer (b) of a metal or metal alloy B at least on a part of the surface of the metallic foam body (a).

Abstract: A metallic foam body containing an alloy skin which is up to 50 ?m thick can be obtained by a process including (a) providing a metallic foam body comprising a first metallic material; (b) applying a second metallic material which contains a first metallic compound that is leachable as such and/or that can be transformed by alloying into a second metallic compound that is leachable and different from the first metallic compound on a surface of the foam body (a), by coating the metallic foam body with an organic binder and a powder of the second metallic material; (c) forming a skin on foam body (b) by alloying the first and the second metallic material; and (d) leaching out with a leaching agent at least a part of the first and/or the second metallic compound.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixed bed of catalytically active metal foam bodies having a volume of not more than 500 mL which consist to an extent of at least 95 wt % of metals. The fixed bed is used for catalytic reactions in a three-phase reaction mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing 1,4-butanediol (BDO) by hydrogenating 2-butyne-1,4-diol (BYD) or 4-hydroxybutanal (4-HBA) in the presence of a catalyst of the Raney type having a porous foam structure, wherein the macroscopic pores have sizes in the range of 100 to 5000 ?m, and a bulk density of up to 0.8 kg/L.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing 3-(aminomethyl)-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanol, called isophorone amino alcohol (IPAA) hereinafter. In particular, the present invention is directed to a one-stage process for preparing 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanol by hydrogenation of isophoronenitrile (IPN) with hydrogen over a catalyst, in the presence or absence of solvents, wherein the catalyst has certain properties.