Abstract: A catalyst suitable for use in a fuel cell, especially as an anode catalyst, that contains platinum, ruthenium, and nickel, wherein the nickel is at a concentration that is less than about 10 atomic percent.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrorefining catalyst is used to produce the hydrorefining catalyst which contains an inorganic oxide carrier and a hydrogenation-active metal and which has such a bimodal pore characteristic that pores having pore diameters of not more than 50 nm have a pore volume of not less than 0.4 cm3/g, pores having pore diameters of not less than 50 nm have a pore volume of not less than 0.2 cm3/g, and pores having pore diameters of not less than 1000 nm have a pore volume of not more than 0.1 cm3/g. The method comprises the steps of mixing and forming a pseudo-boehmite powder having a dispersibility index of 0.13 to 0.28, and calcinating the formed pseudo-boehmite under a condition in which the pseudo-boehmite is converted into ?-alumina. The hydrorefining catalyst, which has the bimodal pore characteristic, can be produced easily at low cost.

Abstract: Provided is a Pt—Ru based quaternary metal anode catalyst for a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The Pt—Ru based quaternary metal anode catalyst has high activity to methanol oxidation and strong resistance to catalyst poisoning due to carbon monoxide (CO), which is a byproduct of the methanol oxidation. Therefore, the Pt—Ru based quaternary metal anode catalyst can give high power density and can replace existing commercial catalysts.

Abstract: A catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas includes zirconia particles, and a transition metal layer, covering at least a part of a surface of the zirconia particles in a lamellar manner. It can reduce the emission of particulate materials (i.e., P.M.), such as SOF and sulfates, because the contacting area enlarges between the transition metal layer and materials to be purified.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a nano-gold catalyst including a solid carrier and gold deposited on the carrier, wherein the deposited gold has a size less than 10 nm, and the carrier is a mixed metal hydroxide and oxide having the following formula: M(OH)qOy Wherein M is Ti, Fe, Co, Zr, or Ni; q is 0.1-1.5; and q+2y=z, wherein z is the valence of M. The present invention also discloses a preparation process of the nano-gold catalyst.

Abstract: A process is described for the upgrading of hydrocarbon mixtures which boil within the naphtha range containing sulfur impurities, i.e. a hydrodesulfuration process with contemporaneous skeleton isomerization and reduced hydrogenation degree of the olefins contained in said hydrocarbon mixtures, the whole process being carried out in a single step. The process is carried out in the presence of a catalytic system comprising a metal of group VIB, a metal of group VIII and a carrier of acid nature consisting of a mesoporous silico-alumina.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for activating a catalyst composition comprising at least one hydrogenation metal component of Group VI and/or Group VIII of the Periodic Table, and an S-containing organic additive, wherein the catalyst is contacted with hydrogen at a temperature between room temperature and about 600° C., preferably about 100-450° C., and prior to or during the contacting with hydrogen the catalyst is contacted with an organic liquid. Preferably, the contacting with the organic liquid is carried out prior to the contacting with hydrogen. The organic liquid may be a hydrocarbon with a boiling range of 150-500° C., preferably white oil, gasoline, diesel, or gas oil or mineral lube oil. It was found that the application of an organic liquid prior to or during the hydrogen treatment results in catalysts with an increased activity. The invention also comprises catalyst made by the above process and the use of such catalyst in hydrotreating.

Abstract: A heavy oil hydrorefining catalyst of the present invention is such that the total volume of pores with a diameter of 60 nm or less is at least 0.5 mL/g, and the pore diameter distribution has a broad band over a pore diameter range of 8 to 30 nm. The hydrorefining catalyst has excellent desulfurization characteristics and excellent demetalization characteristics, and its performance can be maintained over an extended period. When this catalyst is used in a hydrorefining apparatus equipped with a plurality of catalyst layers, the apparatus can be operated stably at a higher temperature than in the past without decreasing the desulfurization performance, and this also enhances the demetalization characteristics.

Abstract: A Nickel (Ni) catalyst for facilitating a hydrocarbon reforming process, and an improved process based on the catalyst. The catalyst comprising discrete Ni crystallites having a size in the range of between 150 and 250 ? and a distribution on said support element of no more than 0.14 square meters of exposed nickel/square meter of support.

Abstract: A layered catalyst member useful for catalytically generating a hydrogen-rich gas from a hydrocarbon feed. The layered catalyst member comprises a monolith substrate containing at least one layer of a steam reforming catalyst in contact with at least one layer of a catalytic partial oxidation catalyst. The steam reforming catalyst comprises one or more platinum group metal components and the catalytic partial oxidation catalyst comprises palladium components.

Abstract: An inexpensive, highly catalytic material preferably formed by a leaching process. The catalyst comprises a finely divided metal particulate and a support. The active material may be a nickel and/or nickel nickel alloy particulate having a particle size less than about 100 Angstroms. The support may be one or more metal oxides.

Abstract: A catalyst and process is disclosed to selectively upgrade a paraffinic feedstock to obtain an isoparaffin-rich product for blending into gasoline. The catalyst comprises a support of a tungstated oxide or hydroxide of a Group IVB (IUPAC 4) metal, a first component of at least one lanthanide element, yttrium or mixtures thereof, which is preferably ytterbium or holmium, and at least one platinum-group metal component which is preferably platinum.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for preparing spherical oxide particles comprising the steps of shaping a starting material comprising an oxide hydrate into particles of substantially constant length by leading the material to a set of two rolls rotating towards each other followed by leading the material to a roll equipped with grooves to form rod-type shapes, cutting the rod-type shapes into particles of substantially constant length, converting the thus formed particles into spheres, and heating the particles to convert the oxide hydrate into an oxide. The process results in particles in which there is substantially no difference in density between the core portion and the shell portion of the particles, which results in a high abrasion resistance. The particles prepared by the claimed process are particularly suitable for the preparation of hydroprocessing catalysts, more in particular for the preparation of hydroprocessing catalysts suitable for the hydroprocessing of heavy hydrocarbon feeds.

Abstract: A catalyst including a catalytic phase supported by an electronically active support matrix. An electronic interaction that occurs between the catalytic phase and support matrix leads to perturbations in the magnitude and/or spatial distribution of electron density at or near the surface of the catalytic phase. The electronic interaction originates from an overlap of wavefunctions associated with electron density of the catalytic phase with wavefunctions associated with electron density of the catalytic phase. Embodiments include those in which the electronic interaction is of the bonding-type, anti-bonding type or donor acceptor type. Filled, partially filled or unoccupied orbital states may participate in the electronic interaction. The perturbation in electron density induced by the electronic interaction modifies the catalytic properties of the catalytic phase.

Abstract: Multimetal oxide materials containing molybdenum, vanadium, antimony, one or more of the elements W, Nb, Ta, Cr and Ce and nickel and, if required, one or more of the elements Cu, Zn, Co, Fe, Cd, Mn, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba and having a 2-component structure are used for the gas-phase catalytic oxidative preparation of acrylic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of using noble metal-free nickel catalysts to generate a hydrogen-rich gas from gas mixtures containing carbon monoxide and water, such as water-containing syngas mixtures, where the nickel may exist in either a supported or a bulk state. The noble metal-free water gas shift catalyst of the invention comprises Ni in either a supported or a bulk state and at least one of Ge, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Pb, their oxides and mixtures thereof. The invention is also directed toward noble metal-free nickel catalysts that exhibit both high activity and selectivity to hydrogen generation and carbon monoxide oxidation.

Abstract: A composition is provided that can be used, for example, in a fuel processor for a fuel cell system. The composition includes a first material such as a catalyst, and a second material such as a desiccant. The second material is capable of sorbing and desorbing a heat transfer material such as water, and is present in an amount sufficient to sorb an amount of the heat transfer material sufficient to remove a portion of the heat generated when the first material undergoes an exothermic reaction.

Abstract: A hydrorefining catalyst of a hydrogenation active metal component supported on a refractory porous carrier has a median pore diameter determined by the nitrogen adsorption method of 8 to 20 nm, a pore volume determined by the nitrogen adsorption method of 0.56 cm3/g or greater, and a pore volume of pores with a pore diameter of 50 nm or larger determined by the mercury intrusion porosimetry method of 0.32 cm3/g or greater. Both the demetallizing activity and metal deposition capacity of the catalyst in hydrogenation and demetallizing of heavy oil are high. The hydrorefining catalyst is obtained by kneading a porous starting powder principally composed of &ggr;-alumina and having a pore capacity of 0.75 m3/g or larger and a mean pore diameter of 10 to 200 &mgr;m, molding and calcining, and supporting an active metal component on the product.

Abstract: Catalysts and methods for alkane oxydehydrogenation are disclosed. The catalysts of the invention generally comprise (i) nickel or a nickel-containing compound and (ii) at least one or more of titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta), niobium (Nb), hafnium (Hf), tungsten (W), yttrium (Y), zinc (Zn), zirconium (Zr), or aluminum (Al), or a compound containing one or more of such element(s). In preferred embodiments, the catalyst is a supported catalyst, the alkane is selected from the group consisting of ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane and ethyl chloride, molecular oxygen is co-fed with the alkane to a reaction zone maintained at a temperature ranging from about 250° C. to about 350° C., and the ethane is oxidatively dehydrogenated to form the corresponding alkene with an alkane conversion of at least about 10% and an alkene selectivity of at least about 70%.

Abstract: A noble metal nanometer-sized catalyst composition is described along with the method for preparation of the composition. The crystal face of the catalyst contains a preponderance of (111) type crystal phase exposure. The crystal phase exposure is controlled by sequestering the noble metal cation before deposition on a catalyst support. Controlled catalyst face exposition combined with the nanometer scale of the catalyst increases the catalyst selectivity and activity, particularly for hydrogenation and dehydrogenation reactions.

Abstract: An improved noble metal alloy composition for a fuel cell catalyst, the alloy containing platinum, ruthenium, and nickel. The alloy shows methanol oxidation activity.

Abstract: A lean NOx catalyst and method of preparing the same is disclosed. The lean NOx catalyst includes a ceramic substrate, an oxide support material, preferably &ggr;-alumina, deposited on the substrate and a metal promoter or dopant introduced into the oxide support material. The metal promoters or dopants are selected from the group consisting of indium, gallium, tin, silver, germanium, gold, nickel, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, chromium, cerium, vanadium, oxides thereof, and combinations thereof. The &ggr;-alumina preferably has a pore volume of from about 0.5 to about 2.0 cc/g; a surface area of between about 80 to 350 m2/g; an average pore size diameter of between about 3 to 30 nm; and an impurity level of less than or equal to 0.2 weight percent. In a preferred embodiment the &ggr;-alumina is prepared by a sol-gel method, with the metal doping of the &ggr;-alumina preferably accomplished using an incipient wetness impregnation technique.

Abstract: A process of enhancing both the activity and the methane selectivity of a Dispersed Active Metal (“DAM”) hydrogenation catalyst is disclosed wherein the DAM undergoes low temperature oxidation in a slurry phase to form a stable, unique oxidized catalyst precursor that is subsequently reduced to form an enhanced catalyst by treatment with hydrogen-containing gas at elevated temperature, wherein reducible promoter metals comprising one or more of rhenium, ruthenium, palladium, iron and cobalt are added to the DAM. The promoter metals are mixed with the oxidized catalyst precursor as a solution of their reducible salts. The oxidized catalyst precursors are again recovered from the mixture and treated with hydrogen-containing gas to simultaneously form the metals and reactivate the DAM catalyst.

Abstract: A composition comprising a promoter and a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of a niobium oxide, a tantalum oxide, and combinations thereof, wherein at least a portion of the promoter is present as a reduced valence promoter and methods of preparing such composition are disclosed. The thus-obtained composition is employed in a desulfurization zone to remove sulfur from a hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for cleaning flowing gases. To reduce the total emissions, nitrogen oxides, especially NO and NOx, are extracted at least partially from the gas to be scrubbed, in the temperature range from 50 and 300° C., preferably between 50 and 150° C. To extract the nitrogen oxides, an intermediate storage medium is used that is composed of a storage material and a supporting material for the storage material. The intermediate storage medium having in particular a composition of the formal chemical formula Ag.CuAl2O4 in an Al2O3 matrix, with the composition being a spinel or being of the spinel type, and with the composition having characteristic spinel lines in the x-ray spectrum, where 0≦x<1.

Abstract: A modified &thgr;-Al2O3-supported nickel reforming catalyst and its use for producing synthesis gas from natural gas, more specifically to a nickel reforming catalyst expressed by the following formula 1, having improved coke resistance, high-temperature catalysis stability and catalytic activity, which is prepared by coating nickel or mixture of nickel and cocatalyst (M1—M2—Ni) on a &thgr;-Al2O3 support modified with metal (M3—M4—ZrO2/&thgr;-Al2O3), and its use for producing synthesis gas from natural gas through steam reforming, oxygen reforming or steam-oxygen reforming, M1—M2—Ni/M3—M4—ZrO2/&thgr;-Al2O3  (1) wherein M1 is an alkali metal, each of M2 and M3 is an alkaline earth metal; and M4 is a IIIB element or a lanthanide.

Abstract: A catalyst system and method for making carbon fibrils is provided which comprises a catalytic amount of an inorganic catalyst comprising nickel and one of the following substances selected from the group consisting of chromium; chromium and iron; chromium and molybdenum; chromium, molybdenum, and iron; aluminum; yttrium and iron; yttrium, iron and aluminum; zinc; copper; yttrium; yttrium and chromium; and yttrium, chromium and zinc. In a further aspect of the invention, a catalyst system and method is provided for making carbon fibrils which comprises a catalytic amount of an inorganic catalyst comprising cobalt and one of the following substances selected from the group consisting of chromium; aluminum; zinc; copper; copper and zinc; copper, zinc, and chromium; copper and iron; copper, iron, and aluminum; copper and nickel; and yttrium, nickel and copper.

Abstract: A sorbent composition is provided which can be used in the desulfurization of a hydrocarbon-containing fluid such as cracked gasoline or diesel fuel. The sorbent composition contains a support component and a promoter component with the promoter component being present as a skin on the support component. Such sorbent composition is prepared by a process of impregnating a support component with a promoter component, wherein the promoter component has been melted under a melting condition, followed by drying, calcining, and reducing to thereby provide the sorbent composition.

Abstract: A catalytic support includes a substantial quantity of at least one SVI group Periodic Table metal oxide in which is incorporated silica. The mass ratio between the quantity of SVI group metal oxide and the quantity of silica it contains ranges between 5 and 70, the SVI group metal oxide is in crystalline form, and the specific surface of the support is greater than or equal to 160 m2/g.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst and a process for its production, wherein the catalyst can be used for the hydrogenation of nitro groups in nitroaromatics to form the corresponding amines in the presence of water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst, in particular for the hydrogenation of functional groups of organic compounds in the presence of water, comprising nickel on a support, the catalyst being reduced and stabilized.

Abstract: A particulate catalyst suitable for the hydrogenation of fats or oils containing 5 to 75% by weight of nickel may be made by slurrying a transition alumina powder having a surface-weighted mean diameter D[3,2] in the range 1 &mgr;m to 20 &mgr;m with an aqueous solution of a nickel ammine complex, followed by heating to deposit an insoluble nickel compound and then reducing the latter. Catalysts containing up to about 55% by weight of nickel have a nickel surface area above 130 m2/g of nickel. Catalysts having greater nickel contents made using alumina having an average pore diameter above 12 &mgr;m may have a lower nickel surface area but are surprisingly active and selective.

Abstract: A material composed of ultrafine particles, comprising at least a metal element M having catalytic properties and at least a metal element M′ having a standard oxidation potential less than that of M, part at least of M′ atoms being in oxidized form, the average size of the particles being less than 50 nm, at least 80% in number of the particles having an average size less than 10 nm. One particle of the material is constituted by at least a metal element M with oxidation level 0, or by at least a metal element M′ in oxidized form, or by at least a metal element M′ with oxidation level 0, or by the combination of at least two species selected from the three previous species. The material is useful as a catalyst for hydrogenation or coupling reactions.

Abstract: A supported catalyst comprising a mixed metal oxide is useful for the vapor phase oxidation of an alkane or a mixture of an alkane and an alkene to an unsaturated carboxylic acid and for the vapor phase ammoxidation of an alkane or a mixture of an alkane and an alkene to an unsaturated nitrile.

Abstract: A hydrogenation catalyst of the general formula AB(y)C(z) wherein A is a support comprising of a salt of a Group II A metal or zeolite, B is a noble metal selected from Pt or Pd, y=0.2 to 10%, C is nickel and z=0 to 15.0%, with the proviso that when B is Pt, z=0.

Abstract: A method of treating a catalyst support comprises introducing onto and/or into an untreated catalyst support which is partially soluble in an aqueous acid solution and/or a neutral aqueous solution, Si, Zr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ba, Co, Ni and/or La as a modifying component. The modifying component is capable, when present in and/or on the catalyst support, of suppressing the solubility of the catalyst support in the aqueous acid solution and/or the neutral aqueous solution. A protected modified catalyst support which is less soluble or more inert in the aqueous acid solution and/or the neutral aqueous solution, than the untreated catalyst support, is thus formed. A method of forming a catalyst from the modified catalyst support is also provided.

Abstract: Novel sorbent systems for the desulfurization of cracked-gasoline and diesel fuels are provided which are comprised of a bimetallic promotor on a particulate support such as that formed of zinc oxide and an inorganic or organic carrier. Such bimetallic promotors are formed of at least two metals of the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, silver, tin, antimony and vanadium with the valence of same being reduced, preferably to zero. Processes for the production of such sorbents are provided wherein the sorbent is prepared from impregnated particulate supports or admixed to the support composite prior to particulation, drying, and calcination. Further disclosed is the use of such novel sorbents in the desulfurization of cracked-gasoline and diesel fuels whereby there is achieved not only removal of sulfur but also an increase in the olefin retention in the desulfurized product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst which can be used in a process involving a conversion reaction for organic compounds, containing at least one support and at least one metal, and characterized in that it has particles of an average size greater than approximately 1 nm, and more than 80% of particles, the size of which is comprised in the range D±(D.0.2) where D represents the average size of the particles. It also relates to the process for preparing this catalyst which consists of preparing a colloidal suspension, in aqueous phase, of the metal oxide or metals to be supported, then depositing this suspension on a support, and optionally reducing the oxide thus supported.

Abstract: Catalysts for exothermic reactions conducted in a fixed bed, comprising an inert diluent constituted by metal granules in which the metal has a thermal conductivity of more than 0.5 W/cm/K, particularly catalysts for the oxychlorination of ethylene to 1,2-dichloroethane.

Abstract: A heavy oil is hydrorefined using a hydrorefining catalyst. A spent hydrorefining catalyst whose activity has decreased is heat treated (S1) and pulverized to obtained a regenerated powder (S2). This regenerated powder is fractionated according to its metal content (S3), formed (S dried (S7), and calcined (S7) to manufacture a regenerated catalyst whose volume of pores with a diameter of 50 to 2000 nm is at least 0.2 ml/g, and whose volume of pores with a diameter over 2000 nm is no more than 0.1 mL/g. Using this regenerated catalyst, a heavy oil containing at least 45 wt ppm vanadium and nickel as combined metal elements is hydrodemetalized, and the vanadium and nickel are recovered from the used regenerated catalyst (SS1). Through hydrorefining, the metal components are recovered more efficiently, and the spent catalyst can be reused to manufacture a regenerated catalyst that exhibits high reaction, activity.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for reactions of hydrogen over a Re-containing catalyst with compositions containing a 5-carbon sugar, sugar alcohol, or lactic acid are described. It has been surprisingly discovered that reaction with hydrogen over a Re-containing multimetallic catalyst resulted in superior conversion and selectivity to desired products such as propylene glycol. A process for the synthesis of PG from lactate or lactic acid is also described.

Abstract: A catalyst which contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Group V elements, Group VI elements, Group VII elements, Group VIII elements, Group IX elements, Group X elements, and Group XI elements in the periodic table, and is to be used for subjecting an epoxy alcohol represented by a general formula (1) to a hydrogenolysis reaction in the presence of at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of ethers, esters, aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds and aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds. By use of such a catalyst, a both end-hydroxyl group-terminated diol having a high purity can be produced efficiently.

Abstract: A method for producing a hydrotreating catalyst which relates to the production of a solid catalyst composed of a carrier impregnated with an active component, to give a catalyst for hydrotreating hydrocarbon oils, which contains a large quantity of a hydrogenation-active component and uniform, crystalline composite metal compound, and shows high catalytic activity.

Abstract: A Nickel (Ni) catalyst for facilitating a hydrocarbon reforming process, and an improved process based on the catalyst. The catalyst comprising discrete Ni crystallites having a size in the range of between 150 and 250 □ and a distribution on said support element of no more than 0.

Abstract: A chromium-free Fe-based catalyst for CO HTS reaction, comprising about 65 to about 90% by weight of Ferriate oxides; about 1 to about 10% by weight of Al, Fe, Si-mixed oxides (Al:Fe:Si=6:2:1) or aluminum-silicon-sol (Al:Si=8:2); about 0.5 to about 2.0% by weight of vanadium oxides; about 0.5 to about 3.0% by weight of magnesium oxides; about 0.5 to about 3.0% by weight of nickel oxides and about 0.1 to about 0.6% by weight of potassium oxide, based on the total weight of the catalyst. There is also provided a method for producing the catalyst.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a catalyst configuration, comprises: a substrate, a NiO layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the NiO layer comprises greater than or equal to about 75 wt % of the NiO in the catalyst configuration; and a catalyst layer comprising a NOx adsorbing catalyst. In another embodiment, a catalyst configuration, comprises: a substrate, a catalyst layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the catalyst layer comprises a NOx adsorbing catalyst and thermally treated NiO.

Abstract: Applicants have developed a novel catalyst composition comprising a crystalline metal oxide having the empirical formula: AvBt+wNixD(Gu−)yOz, where A is an alkali metal (e.g. Na), B is a basic metal (e.g. Ca), D is a framework component (e.g. P), and G is an anionic species (e.g. OH−). Nickel may be present in the framework of the crystalline metal oxide, dispersed thereon, or both. Preferably, the metal oxide component has an apatite or hydroxyapatite crystal structure. These crystalline metal oxide components have been found to have improved performance in partial oxidation and light hydrocarbon (e.g. methane) reforming to produce synthesis gas. A new process for synthesizing these metal oxides is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sulfur sorber for the reduction of gaseous sulfur compounds, e.g., H2S, in a gas stream The sulfur sorber, e.g., zinc oxide, is present in the form of one or more layers on the surface of a monolith carrier, e.g., cordierite. The layers have a total thickness of at least 3 g/in3 of the carrier. Preferably, the sorber is present in the form of at least three layers on the surface of the monolith carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a catalyst which has more excellent removability upon organohalogen compounds and is suitable for removing the organohalogen compounds from exhaust gases; and a process for removing organohalogen compounds with this catalyst. The catalyst for removing organohalogen compounds comprises titanium oxide (TiO2) and vanadium oxide as catalytic components, and has pores that includes a group of pores having a pore diameter distribution peak in the range of 0.01 to 0.05 &mgr;m and another group of pores having a pore diameter distribution peak in the range of 0.1 to 0.8 &mgr;m, and this catalyst is characterized by further comprising an oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, cobalt, nickel, zinc, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, tin, tantalum, lanthanum and cerium as another catalytic component. The process for removing organohalogen compounds involves the use of this catalyst.

Abstract: A nickel/rhenium catalyst composition for the reductive amination of lower aliphatic alkane derivatives is described. The catalyst includes from about 2 to about 75 weight percent nickel and has a nickel to rhenium weight percent ratio of from about 1:1 to about 200:1. The nickel and rhenium are supported on an alumina-silica support which contains from about 5 to about 65 weight percent silica and has a BET surface area of from about 30 to about 450 m2/g. A process for the reductive amination of lower aliphatic alkane derivatives using such a catalyst composition is also provided.