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 the manufacture of a pulverulent, porous crystalline metal silicate, comprising the following steps: (a) hydrothermal synthesis employing an aqueous mixture comprising (A) a silicon source, (B) a metal source, and (C) an auxiliary component, yielding an aqueous suspension of reaction product 1, comprising a raw porous crystalline metal silicate; and (b) flame spray pyrolysis of reaction product 1, wherein the aqueous suspension obtained in step (a) is sprayed into a flame generated by combustion of a fuel in the presence of oxygen to form a pulverulent, porous crystalline metal silicate; wherein the aqueous suspension comprising reaction product 1 obtained in step (a) exhibits a solids content of ?70% by weight; and wherein the effective peak temperature, Teff, experienced by at least 90% by weight of the porous crystalline metal silicate during flame pyrolysis, is in the range Tmin<Teff<Tmax, and wherein Tmin is 750° C., and wherein Tmax is 1250° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a pulverulent, porous crystalline metal silicate, comprising the following steps: a) hydrothermal synthesis in an aqueous mixture comprising (A) at least one silicon source, (B) at least one metal source and (C) at least one mineralizer to obtain an aqueous suspension comprising a porous crystalline metal silicate as reaction product; and b) calcination of the reaction product, characterized in that the calcination is conducted by means of flame spray pyrolysis at an adiabatic combustion temperature within a range of 450-2200° C., wherein the suspension having a solids content of 70% by weight which is obtained in step a) is sprayed into a flame generated by combustion of a fuel in the presence of oxygen to form a pulverulent, porous crystalline metal silicate.

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 a pulverulent, porous crystalline metal silicate, comprising the following steps: a) hydrothermal synthesis in an aqueous mixture comprising (A) at least one silicon source, (B) at least one metal source and (C) at least one mineralizer to obtain an aqueous suspension comprising a porous crystalline metal silicate as reaction product; and b) calcination of the reaction product, characterized in that the calcination is conducted by means of flame spray pyrolysis at an adiabatic combustion temperature within a range of 450-2200° C., wherein the suspension having a solids content of 70% by weight which is obtained in step a) is sprayed into a flame generated by combustion of a fuel in the presence of oxygen to form a pulverulent, porous crystalline metal silicate.

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 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 invention provides a multistep process for preparing a low-sulfur reformate gas for use in a fuel cell system. The process comprises catalytic steam reforming of a reactant gas mixture comprising sulfur-containing hydrocarbons and steam in a first step to make a reformate, reducing the carbon monoxide content of the reformate in a second step, passing the reformate over a sulfur absorber either directly after the first step or after passage through the second step, and desorbing the sulfur components optionally absorbed on the catalysts in the reforming and reducing process steps by periodically raising the temperature so as to cause the sulfer components to pass to the absorber, wherein the temperature of the absorber during operation of the process is always kept within a temperature interval which is an optimum for the absorber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst and a process for the autothermal, catalytic steam reforming of hydrocarbons using the catalyst. The catalyst has a multilayer structure and comprises a lower catalyst layer located directly on a support body and an upper catalyst layer located on the lower catalyst layer, with the lower catalyst layer preferentially catalysing the partial oxidation and the upper catalyst layer preferentially catalysing steam reforming. In a further embodiment, a three-layer catalyst having a further catalyst layer for the carbon monoxide conversion (water gas shift reaction) is described. Each catalyst layer comprises at least one platinum group metal on an oxidic support material. The steam reforming process is carried out in an adiabatic process by passing a feed mixture of hydrocarbons, oxygen and water or water vapour which has been heated to a preheating temperature over the multilayer catalyst.

Abstract: A process for autothermal catalytic steam reforming of hydrocarbons by passing a reactant mixture of hydrocarbons, oxygen and water or water vapor, heated to a preheating temperature, over a catalyst. The process is operated adiabatically and the catalyst has a coating of a catalyst material on a support structure, the catalyst material containing at least one platinum group metal on an oxidic support material which can be aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide or mixed oxides thereof and zeolites.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for catalytic autothermal steam reforming of alcohols having two or more carbon atoms by directing a preheated educt or reactant mixture of the alcohols, oxygen and water or steam over a catalyst. The process is conducted in an adiabatic manner wherein the catalyst comprises at least one platinum group metal on an oxidic support selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide or mixed oxides thereof and zeolites, and that the educt or reactant mixture contains additional hydrocarbons, which are reformed at the same time as the alcohols.

Abstract: The invention provides a combined heat and power plant with an integrated gas production system. The combined heat and power plant contains a steam reformer heated with a gas burner which converts a mixture of hydrocarbons and water vapour into a reformate gas stream containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The plant further contains a reactor system with several stages for removing carbon monoxide from the reformate gas stream. The plant also contains a heat exchanger for removing heat energy from the reformate gas stream and a fuel cell unit for producing electrical energy by catalytic reaction of the hydrogen contained in the reformate gas with oxygen in the fuel cell, wherein the reformate gas stream is supplied to the anode in the fuel cell unit and the anode waste gas is taken to the gas burner of the steam reformer as fuel, via a gas pipe.

Abstract: A method for catalytic conversion of carbon monoxide with water to carbon dioxide and water in a hydrogen-containing gas mixture (carbon monoxide conversion) by passing the gas mixture over a shift catalyst that is at an operating temperature for the carbon monoxide conversion. The method is carried out with a shift catalyst based on noble metals that is applied to an inert support element in the form of a coating.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a catalyst and a process for autothermal catalytic steam reforming of hydrocarbons using the catalyst. The catalyst has a multilayer structure and contains a lower catalyst layer lying directly on a support and an upper catalyst layer lying on the lower catalyst layer, in which the lower catalyst layer preferentially catalyzes partial oxidation and the upper catalyst layer preferentially catalyzes steam reforming. Each catalyst layer contains at least one platinum group metal on an oxide support material. The process is operated adiabatically by passing a starting mixture of the hydrocarbons, oxygen and water or steam, heated to a preheat temperature, over the multilayer catalyst. The catalyst and process are used to generate hydrogen-containing fuel gases for fuel cells in reformer systems.

Abstract: A method for catalytic conversion of carbon monoxide with water to carbon dioxide and water in a hydrogen-containing gas mixture (carbon monoxide conversion) by passing the gas mixture over a shift catalyst that is at an operating temperature for the carbon monoxide conversion. The method is carried out with a shift catalyst based on noble metals that is applied to an inert support element in the form of a coating.

Abstract: The invention provides a supported metal membrane which contains a metal membrane on a support surface of a porous membrane support. The supported metal membrane is obtainable by applying the metal membrane to the support surface of the membrane support, wherein the pores in the membrane support are sealed, at least in the region of the support surface, prior to applying the metal membrane and are opened by removing the auxiliary substance only after applying the metal membrane.

Abstract: Method of performing alkylation or acylation reactions of aromatic substrates under supercritical or near-critical reaction conditions. In particular, a method of performing Friedel-Crafts alkylation or acylation reactions is disclosed under those conditions. Friedel-Crafts reactions may be effected using a heterogeneous catalyst in a continuous flow reactor containing a super-critical or near-critical reaction medium. Selectivity of product formation can be achieved by varying one or more of the temperature, pressure, catalyst, flow rates and also by varying the ratios of aromatic substrate to acylating or alkylating agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for catalytic autothermal steam reforming of alcohols having two or more carbon atoms by directing a preheated educt or reactant mixture of the alcohols, oxygen and water or steam over a catalyst. The process is conducted in an adiabatic manner wherein the catalyst comprises at least one platinum group metal on an oxidic support selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide or mixed oxides thereof and zeolites, and that the educt or reactant mixture contains additional hydrocarbons, which are reformed at the same time as the alcohols.

Abstract: In a process for the hydroformylation of alkanes, alkenes or trialkylboranes under supercritical or near-critical conditions, hydroformylation is effected using a heterogeneous catalyst in a continuous flow reactor containing a supercritical or near-critical reaction medium. Selectivity of product formation may be achieved by independently varying one of more of the temperature, pressure, catalyst, mole ratios of hydrogen and carbon monoxide and flow rate.

Abstract: A method for conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and hydrogen with water in a gas mixture containing hydrogen and other oxidizable components. An oxidation-active noble metal shift catalyst is the catalyst. The necessary operating temperature of the catalyst is established and optionally maintained by partial oxidation of the oxidizable components of the gas mixture.