US3950368A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manufacture of methane
Assignee: BASF SE
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Filing: 1973-11-13
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Granted: 1976-04-13
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Expires: 1993-11-13
Abstract
Abstract A two-stage process for the manufacture of methane from hydrocarbons is described. In the first stage, the hydrocarbons are converted into methane-rich gases, using the nickel catalyst described below. The cracked gases thus obtained are cooled and converted into methane-rich gases in a further catalytic process stage, using a methanization catalyst or the nickel catalyst mentioned below. To produce the nickel catalyst, the compound Ni 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 .CO 3 .4H 2 O is prepared in aqueous solution. The catalyst is obtained from this compound by drying, calcination and subsequent reduction in a stream of hydrogen whilst maintaining very specific temperature gradients between the drying stage and the calcination stage.
Inventors
- 👤 Franz Josef Broecker
- 👤 Guenter Zirker
- 👤 Bruno Triebskorn
- 👤 Laszlo Marosi
- 👤 Matthias Schwarzmann
- 👤 Winfried Dethlefsen
- 👤 Knut Kaempfer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:22
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C1/00; C07C1/02; B; B01; B01J; B01J23/00; B01J23/70; B01J23/74; B01J23/755; C07C4/00; C10; C10G; C10G11/00; C10G11/02; C10G11/10; C07C2527/00; C07C2527/20; C07C2527/232; C07C2527/236
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
A process for the manufacture of methane by steam reforming of hydrocarbons of 2 to 30 C atoms or their mixtures on nickel catalysts at superatmospheric pressure, and after-treatment of the resulting cracked gases consisting essentially of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane and steam, wherein, in a first process stage, in order to produce gases containing methane, the hydrocarbon vapors or their mixtures together with steam are passed under superatmospheric pressure and at temperatures above 250°C through the bed of a practically alkali-free supported nickel catalyst produced from the catalyst precursor Ni 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 .CO 3 .4H 2 O, wherein the catalyst precursor is manufactured by precipitating the compound Ni 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 .CO 3 .4H 2 O from aqueous solution, drying it at a temperature of from 80° to 180°C, calcining it at a temperature of from 300° to 550°C and subsequently reducing it in a stream of hydrogen, with the proviso that between the drying stage and the calcination stage the temperature is raised at a rate in the range from 1.60° to 3.33°C/minute, and the reaction products obtained after passing through the first process stage, in which the catalyst has been kept at temperatures from 300° to 500°C by the heat of reaction which was liberated, are cooled, and the gases consisting essentially of methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are passed, in a further catalytic process stage, under superatmospheric pressure and at temperatures of the gas mixtures from 200° to 300°C, through a bed of a low temperature naphtha cracking catalyst containing nickel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
A process for the manufacture of methane by steam reforming of hydrocarbons of 2 to 30 C atoms or their mixtures on nickel catalysts at superatmospheric pressure, and after-treatment of the resulting cracked gases consisting essentially of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane and steam, wherein, in a first process stage, in order to produce gases containing methane, the hydrocarbon vapors or their mixtures together with steam are passed under superatmospheric pressure and at temperatures above 250°C through the bed of a practically alkali-free supported nickel catalyst produced from the catalyst precursor Ni 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 .CO 3 .4H 2 O, wherein the catalyst precursor is manufactured by precipitating the compound Ni 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 .CO 3 .4H 2 O from aqueous solution, drying it at a temperature of from 80° to 180°C, calcining it at a temperature of from 300° to 550°C and subsequently reducing it in a stream of hydrogen, with the proviso that between the drying stage and the calcination stage the temperature is raised at a rate in the range from 1.60° to 3.33°C/minute, and the reaction products obtained after passing through the first process stage, in which the catalyst has been kept at temperatures from 300° to 500°C by the heat of reaction which was liberated, are cooled, and the gases consisting essentially of methane, hydrogen and carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are passed, in a further catalytic process stage, under superatmospheric pressure and at temperatures of the gas mixtures from 200° to 300°C, through a bed of a low temperature naphtha cracking catalyst containing nickel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said catalyst is precipitated on an alumina support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as set forth in claim 2 wherein said alumina is hydrated alumina.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as set forth in claim 3 wherein a catalyst produced from the catalyst precursor Ni 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 . CO 3 . 4H 2 O is employed in the second catalystic process stage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process as set forth in claim 3 wherein the catalyst containing between 15 and 68% nickel is manufactured by precipitating the catalyst precursor Ni 6 Al 2 (OH) 16 . CO 3 . 4H 2 O onto a support in aqueous suspension.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-13 | 1979-10-13 | 1980-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-13 | 1983-10-13 | 1984-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-13 | 1987-10-13 | 1988-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |