PATENTS

3882.            WATTS, R. N., AND SPICER, W. E.  (Standard Oil Development Co.).  Hollow Magnetite Bead Catalyst.  United States Patent 2,583,452, Jan. 22, 1952; appl. filed Dec. 31, 1947, Serial No. 794,980; 2 claims (Cl. 252-474).

Hydrocarbon synthesis catalysts comprising hollow metal micropheres are prepared from an oxide of metal belonging to the group consisting of Fe, Co, or Ni by heating a wire or rod of the relatively pure metal in conjunction with a metallizing gun to a temperature of about 2,000°-4,000° F., causing a moving stream of the metal to impinge upon a convex baffle located in the path of the stream in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature 100°-300° F.  The stream of molten metal is thus formed into hollow microspheres having a particle size predominantly within the range of 40-120 μ.  The catalysts thus formed are utilized either alone or with carriers, such as kieselguhr, synthetic gels, silica, and alumina, and with promoters, such as oxides of Na, K, Cr, Zn, Al, Mg, and the rare earth metals, and under fixed-bed or fluidized conditions.