GB507419A - Production of improved metallic compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

507,419. Compositions containing metals. GROOMBRIDGE, W. H., and NEWNS, J. E. Dec. 9, 1937, No. 34124. [Class 70] [Also in Groups III and IV] Metallic compositions particularly for use as catalysts e.g. in the hydrogenation of carbon compounds, especially carbon monoxide, are obtained by heating a mixture preferably finely-divided of a heavy metal oxide with another metal of higher affinity for oxygen, so as to obtain a porous structure of one heavy metal oxide permeated with and acting as a support for an oxide of the other heavy metal, which is then reduced with a gaseous reducing agent to form a porous non-friable structure of the heavy metal of lower affinity for oxygen permeated with the metal of higher affinity for oxygen. The initial mixture is preferably heated above 500‹ C. even up to 900‹ C. The product is then preferably broken into granules before reduction e.g. with water gas or producer gas, at temperatures between 300‹-700‹ C. e.g. 350‹-500‹ C. In particular the metal of higher affinity for oxygen may he nickel or cobalt, the other metal being copper. Examples describe the preparation of catalysts by heating cupric oxide with nickel or cobalt at 900‹ C. The products are broken to about “'' mesh and reduced by water gas at 350‹ C. They may be used for the conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to methane. Other substances may be applied to or incorporated in the metallic compositions, e.g. thorium oxide may be applied or incorporated to give a catalyst suitable for synthesizing hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. These catalysts are also suitable for other reactions, e.g. the conversion of ethyl alcohol to acetone, or reactions in which the metals combine with and remove oxygen and halogens from compounds. Specification 507,420 is referred to.