GB708957A - Method of producing gel-type inorganic oxide catalysts - Google Patents

Abstract

Hydrocarbons are converted at elevated temperatures using a gel-type inorganic oxide catalyst prepared by precipitating a hydrous inorganic oxide in the presence of an aqueous dispersion of 3-30 per cent., based on anhydrous oxide, of an organic material having a molecular weight of about 1 x 103 to 1 x 107; the organic material is present in the precipitated gel as an internal dispersed phase, and is decomposed by calcining the washed and dried gel, to form a highly porous catalyst, which is mechanically stable and may be pelleted. Reference is mad to individual or plural gel catalysts containing the oxides of silicon, aluminium, chromium, molybdenum, magnesium, iron, vanadium, manganese, copper, nickel, titanium, thorium, zirconium, and tungsten; an alumina base may be impregnated with ammonium molybdate or chromate, or chloroplatinic acid. Suitable organic materials are gelatins, glues, pectin, potato starch, dried skim milk, hydrolysed starches, high molecular weight alcohols and esters, methyl cellulose, dispersed natural cellulose, rubber latex, water-soluble derivatives of propylene polymers, bacteria and moulds. Preferably the organic additive has a molecular weight 102 to 104 times the molecular weight of the hydrocarbon charge stock. Examples describe the preparation of catalysts (1) by co-precipitation of silica-alumina gel in the presence of natural rubber latex; (2) by co-precipitation of molybdena-alumina gel in the presence of animal glue. The catalysts are useful in processes involving cracking (e.g. of gas oil), reforming (e.g. of petroleum naphthas), dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, isomerisation and cyclisation. Tables are given relating to the use of the catalysts in cracking and hydroforming, and to the regeneration of a cracking catalyst.