GB667708A - Improvements in or relating to preparation of catalytic and adsorbent magnesia-containing materials - Google Patents

Abstract

Magnesium metal or an alloy thereof is reacted with anhydrous methyl or ethyl alcohol, if desired in the presence of a catalyst such as mercury, mercuric chloride, aluminium chloride or iodine, and the alcoholate so formed treated with a substantially water-insoluble alcohol, if desired in admixture with a petroleum distillate. Suitable water-insoluble alcohols are n-, secondary- and isobutyl alcohols, pentanol-1, -2, and -3, 2-methyl butanol-3 and -4, hexanol-1, -2 and -3, methyl pentanols, di-methyl butanols, and heptyl- and hexyl alcohols. Suitable petroleum distillates are those boiling in the range 200-500 DEG F. Methyl or ethyl alcohol liberated is removed for reuse by distillation from the higher alcoholate formed.ALSO:Magnesia is prepared by reacting magnesium metal or an alloy thereof with anhydrous methyl or ethyl alcohol, if desired in the presence of a catalyst such as mercury, mercuric chloride, aluminium chloride or iodine, treating the alcoholate so formed with a substantially water-insoluble alcohol, if desired in admixture with a petroleum distillate, and hydrolyzing the resultant substituted alcoholate with water, at say 100-200 DEG F. to form a slurry of magnesia, and a separable layer of the water-insoluble alcohol for reuse. Suitable water-insoluble alcohols are n-, secondary- and isobutyl alcohols, pentanol-1, -2 and -3, 2 methyl butanol-3 and -4, hexanol-1, -2 and 3, methyl pentanols, dimethyl butanols, and heptyl- and hexyl alcohols. Suitable petroleum distillates are those boiling in the range 200 DEG -500 DEG F. Methyl or ethyl alcohol liberated is removed for reuse by distillation from the higher alcoholate formed. Separation of the hydrolized mixture into two layers is effected at 70 DEG -200 DEG F., and the alcohol-hydrocarbon mixture is dried by p distilling off the water. Small quantities of said mixture separating from the distillate are returned to the main separator. The magnesia slurry may be dried, or mixed with say, ammonium molybdate or dichromate, dried, and activated at 850 DEG F. to produce catalysts. Where mercury is used as a catalyst in the first stage, it may be recovered by contacting the magnesium alcoholate solution prior to hydrolysis with copper or silver, which may be deposited on pumice, silica gel, alumina &c. and subsequently distilling at a temperature up to 1000 DEG F. Hydrogen evolved in the first reaction may be compressed.