Wayne State University

Basf Corporation

Shuli Yan

Steven O Salley

K Y Simon Ng

Kwo Young

Manhoe Kim

Ky Simon Ng

Simon K Y Ng

Metal hydride batteries comprising an electrolyte composition which comprises an aqueous solution comprising potassium hydroxide (KOH) and one or more halide and/or oxyacid salts exhibit reduced degradation of the anode material during operation. The salts are for instance alkali metal salts. Anode materials exhibit for instance &#x3c;100 % of the degradation of the same anode material in the same battery when replacing the electrolyte composition with 30 weight percent (wt %) aqueous KOH and the conductivity of the electrolyte composition is for instance &#x2265;85 % of 30 wt % aqueous KOH. Anode materials are for example ABx high capacity hydrogen storage alloys comprising Mg where x is from about 0.5 to about 5 and which has a discharge capacity of &#x2265;400 mAh/g.

Electrolytes and metal hydride batteries

A heterogeneous catalyst system, a method of preparing the catalyst system and a method of forming a biodiesel product via transesterification reactions using the catalyst system is disclosed. The catalyst system according to one aspect of the present disclosure represents a class of supported mixed metal oxides that include at least calcium oxide and another metal oxide deposited on a lanthanum oxide or cerium oxide support. Preferably, the catalysts include CaO&#x2014;CeOZLaOor CaO&#x2014;LaO/CeO. Optionally, the catalyst may further include additional metal oxides, such as CaO&#x2014;LaO&#x2014;GdOxZLaO.

Supported catalyst systems and method of making biodiesel products using such catalysts

In one aspect, a heterogeneous catalyst comprises calcium hydroxide and lanthanum hydroxide, wherein the catalyst has a specific surface area of more than about 10 m/g. In another aspect, a heterogeneous catalyst comprises a calcium compound and a lanthanum compound, wherein the catalyst has a specific surface area of more than about 10 m/g, and a total basicity of about 13.6 mmol/g. In further another aspect, a heterogeneous catalyst comprises calcium oxide and lanthanum oxide, wherein the catalyst has a specific surface area of more than about 10 m/g. In still another aspect, a process for preparing a catalyst comprises introducing a base precipitant, a neutral precipitant, and an acid precipitant to a solution comprising a first metal ion and a second metal ion to form a precipitate. The process further comprises calcining the precipitate to provide the catalyst.

Calcium and lanthanum solid base catalysts for transesterification

A method of forming a product from an oil feedstock, such as a biodiesel product, and a heterogeneous catalyst system used to form said product is disclosed. This catalyst system, which has a high tolerance for the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil feedstock, may simultaneously catalyze both the esterification of FAA and the transesterification of triglycerides present in the oil feedstock. The catalyst system is comprised of a mixture of zinc oxide and a second metal oxide. The zinc oxide includes a mixture of amorphous zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanocrystals, the zinc nanocrystals having a mean grain size between about 20 and 80 nanometers with at least one of the nanocrystals including a mesopore having a diameter of about 5 to 15 nanometers. Preferably, the second metal oxide is a lanthanum oxide, the lanthanum oxide being selected as one from the group of LaCO, LaOOH, and combinations or mixtures thereof.

ZnO nanoparticle catalysts for use in transesterification and esterification reactions and method of making

A method of forming a biodiesel product and a heterogeneous catalyst system used to form said product that has a high tolerance for the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil feedstock is disclosed. This catalyst system may simultaneously catalyze both the esterification of FAA and the transesterification of triglycerides present in the oil feedstock. The catalyst system is comprised of a mixture of zinc oxide and a second metal oxide. The zinc oxide includes a mixture of amorphous zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanocrystals, the zinc nanocrystals having a mean grain size between about 20 and 80 nanometers with at least one of the nanocrystals including a mesopore having a diameter of about 5 to 15 nanometers. Preferably, the second metal oxide is a lanthanum oxide, the lanthanum oxide being selected as one from the group of LaCO, LaOOH, and combinations or mixtures thereof.

ZnO nanoparticle catalysts for use in biodiesel production and method of making

A method of forming a biodiesel product and a heterogeneous catalyst system used to form said product that has a high tolerance for the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil feedstock is disclosed. This catalyst system may simultaneously catalyze both the esterification of FAA and the transesterification of triglycerides present in the oil feedstock. The catalyst system according to one aspect of the present disclosure represents a class of zinc and lanthanum oxide heterogeneous catalysts that include different ratios of zinc oxide to lanthanum oxides (Zn:La ratio) ranging from about 10:0 to 0:10. The Zn:La ratio in the catalyst is believed to have an effect on the number and reactivity of Lewis acid and base sites, as well as the transesterification of glycerides, the esterification of fatty acids, and the hydrolysis of glycerides and biodiesel.

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Detroit, MI, United States of America

Shuli Yan