The hydrogenation of nitrobenzene at 298K and pressure of 40 bar of H2 over zirconia supported Au catalysts has been studied. Three different procedures were used to prepare 1wt% of Au/ZrO2 catalysts: i) An impregnation method using HAuCl4 as gold precursor ii)Depositation precipitation of Au nanoparticles generated in the presence of urea and iii) Deposition of Gold nanoparticles generated in presence of cetryltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMABR) as surfactant. The catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms at 77 K, XRD, TEM and XPS techniques. The reactions were carried out in a stainless steel batch reactor using ethanol as solvent. The catalysts exhibits a higher selectivity to aniline, with low accumulation of intermediate products. The kinetic study displayed orders 1 respect to hydrogen pressure and to the substrate concentration (nitrobenzene), and the activation energy was 67.2 KJ/mol.

Titania-supported Ir catalysts were used in the hydrogenation of furfural. Reactions were carried out in a stirred batch type reactor at 0.62MPa and 363K using a 0.10M solution of furfural in a 1:1 mixture n-heptane -ethanol as solvent. Catalysts containing 2 wt% of Ir were reduced in H2 flow at different temperatures in the range 473-773K. The catalysts were characterized by H2 chemisorption, TEM, TPR, TPD of NH3 and XPS. Conversion of furfural is higher at lower reduction temperatures, but leads to byproducts whereas reduction at higher temperatures shows selectivity to furfuryl alcohol close to 100%.

Chiral organic-inorganic hybrids have been prepared from 1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS), divynilbenzene (DVB) and a natural alkaloid (-)-Cinchonidine (CD). Different CD quantities were inserted into the solid by hydrosilylation reaction using Pt0(2) as catalyst. The obtained solids were used as supports of Ru which was deposited on the carrier from colloidal dispersion of the metal. Catalysts and supports were characterised by using Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy, X- Ray Diffraction, Electron Transmission Microscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and X- Ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalysts were essayed in the hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate at 298 K and 40 bar of hydrogen in a Parr-type reactor. The obtained results indicate that the catalytic activity of the hybrid catalysts is rather low and in those catalysts having CD in their structure, is possible to induce chirality towards the enantiomer R-lactate

The activity of copper-doped hematite in the SCR with propane, in the presence of oxygen, was evaluated in this work. It was found that copper sulfate led to the production of solids with different specific surface areas depending on the amount of copper. The sulfur and copper species were mainly located on the surface. The copper-containing catalysts were more active in the reduction of nitrogen oxides and less active in the propane oxidation as compared to pure hematite. This behavior was assigned to an association of both sulfur and copper species to produce new sites active for NO reduction.

The effect of chromium on the catalytic properties of MCM-41 was evaluated in order to develop new catalysts for the trimethylbenzene transalkylation with benzene to produce ethylbenzene, a high-value aromatic in the industry. It was found that chromium decreases the specific surface area but increases the acidity, turning MCM-41 into an active and selective catalyst for ethylbenzene and toluene production. The coke produced on the catalyst is hydrogenated and mainly located outside the pores and thus can be easily removed. The catalyst is more active and selective than mordenite, a commercial catalyst, and thus more promising for commercial applications.