PATENT

3465. ----- [STANDARD OIL CO.]  Catalysts.  British Patent 485,178, May 13, 1938.  Chem. Abs., vol. 32, 1938 p. 8715.

Active catalyst of high mechanical strength are obtained by mixing with an effective catalyst substance, which is preferably in minor proportion at least 2 other substances, 1 as a major and the other as a minor ingredient capable of reacting with each other to the exclusion of the effective catalyst to form a compound or a solid solution having a melting point substantially higher than the reaction temperature and then heating the mixture at > 1,600° F. for a time sufficient to effect an increase in mechanical strength but insufficient to cause substantial melting, the amount of compound or solid solution formed being < 10% of the total catalyst.  They are suitable for reaction occurring > 900° F., for example, production of H₂ from steam and hydrocarbons, cracking of hydrocarbons to produce olefins, diolefins, and C₂H₂ destructive hydrogenation reactions, polymerization of unsaturated gaseous hydrocarbons to aromatic hydrocarbons, dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons, and the synthesis of MeOH.  The effective catalyst may be Ni, Fe, or Cr oxide, and 1 of the reacting substances is preferably a difficulty reducible oxide.  The mixture may be molded into shapes before the heating steps and may be subjected to reducing conditions afterward.  H₃BO₃22 and MgO 750 are added to Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O 1.455, dissolved in H₂O 500 parts and the paste dried and heated to 850°-900° F., the powder screened and compressed into tablets, heated to 1,700°-2,000° F. for about 36 hr and the Ni oxide then reduced by H₂: the product may be used to obtain H₂ from CH₄ and steam at 1,525° F.