PATENT

3456. ----- [STANDARD OIL CO.]  Catalyst.  British Patent 671,552, May 7, 1952.  Chem. Abs., vol. 46, 1952, p. 9288.

An active catalyst adapted to promotion of the water-gas-shift reaction is produced by extruding a mixture of Fe₂O₃, CrO₃, and H₂O and activating the extruded material by heating at a temperature in the range 538°-704°, preferably for approximately 8 hr., to convert the CrO₃ to Cr₂O₃.  The final product will consist essentially of 93% Fe₂O₃ and 7% Cr₂O₃.  Catalysts thus prepared may have a pellet-crushing strength of at least 80 lb. and an activity level corresponding to substantially equilibrium CO conversion in the temperature range 427°-482°.  Describes an apparatus which the crushing strengths of cylindrical pellets 3/16 in. in diameter by 3/16 in. long are determined.  In an example, 150 lb. Fe₂O₃ was added, and the mixed with 30 lb. CrO₃ and 5.5 gal. H₂O.  Another 150 lb. Fe₂O₃ was added, and the mixture was extruded into pellets, which were heated for about 8 hr. at 593°.  The effluent gas leaving a commercial  CO conversion unit containing a catalyst prepared by the method described contained 1.3-1.4% CO.  At 427°-482° the equilibrium value is about 1.2% unconverted CO.  By eliminating the conventional wetting and drying steps in the preparation of the catalyst, losses amounting to 3.5-4.0% of the catalyst material are avoided.

See also United States Patent 2,631, 086 (abs. 2377).