PATENT

3513. -----[STANDARD OIL CO.]. Improved Fischer-Tropsch Catalyst, British Patent 593,940, Oct. 29, 1947.  Chem. Abs., vol. 42, 1948, p. 2088.

Catalysts suitable for use in fluid-flow processes, having improved attrition characteristics, are prepared using specially treated bentonite clay as the carrier.  Filtrol that has been treated with a mineral acid, such as HCl, H₂SO₄, or HNO₃, is further treated with a 10% concentration of HF or H₂SiF₆ for 1/2 hr., after which it is separated and dried.  Describes 2 methods of impregnating the carrier.  In the 1^st, H₂O soluble salts of Group VIII metals and H₂O-soluble salts of promoter metals, for example, Th, Mg, U, Mn, Al, are mixed and taken up in suspended particles of treated clay, which is then dried and calcined at 400°-600° F. for 4-16 hr.  The mass is then reduced by H₂ 600°-900° F. in 2-6 hr., the H₂ having a space velocity of 3,000-8,000 vol. per hr.  The final composition may contain 25-40% of free Group VIII metal and 3-10% of the promoter metal.  The catalyst may be ground and pilled before reduction.  In the 2d method the H₂O-containing impregnated clay is made alkaline by adding (NH₄)₂CO₃, K₂CO₃, or Na₂CO₃, which precipitates the metal salts as carbonates.  The H₂O remaining is drained off and the impregnated clay calcined as before.