Nickel-rhenium hydrogenation catalyst and methods of preparing same and using same

Claim 2

A catalytic composition having high activity and selectivity in the amination of lower aliphatic alkane derivatives to the corresponding alkylamine, said catalyst comprising rhenium, nickel and boron impregnated on a support material selected from the group consisting of α-aluminas, silicas, silica-aluminas, kieselguhrs, diatomaceous earth and silica-Titanias wherein the ratio of nickel to boron to rhenium is in the range of from about 2:2:1 to about 30:30:1 and the total nickel, boron and rhenium present is in the range of about 3 to about 30 percent by weight of the support material, wherein said catalyst is activated by reduction in the presence of hydrogen at elevated temperature.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1 wherein the support material has a surface area of at least 1 m 2 /gram.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 2 wherein the support material is a diatomaceous silica having a surface area greater than 10 square meters per gram.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 2 wherein the support material is silica-alumina.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 4 wherein the silica-alumina support has a surface area of about 60 m 2 /gm.

Claim 7

The composition of claim 2 wherein the support material is α-alumina.

Claim 8

The composition of claim 6 wherein the silica support has a surface area of about 130 m 2 /gm.

Claim 9

The composition of claim 1 wherein the support material is silica-titania.

Claim 10

The composition of claim 1 wherein the atom ratio of nickel to boron to rhenium is within the range of from about 5:5:1 to about 20:20:1.

Claim 11

The composition according to claim 7 wherein the atom ratio of nickel to boron to rhenium is within the range of from about 5:5:1 to about 15:5:1.

Claim 12

The composition of claim 1 wherein the total amount of nickel, boron and rhenium on said support material is in the range of from about 5 to about 15 percent by weight of the support material.

Claim 13

The composition of claim 2 wherein the nickel, boron and rhenium are substantially on the outer surface of the support material.

Claim 14

The composition of claim 2 wherein a substantial portion of the nickel, boron and rhenium is infused or permeated into the support material.

Claim 15

The composition of claim 1 wherein cobalt is additionally present on the support material.

Claim 16

A catalyst of high activity and selectivity useful for aminating lower aliphatic alkane derivatives to the corresponding alkyl amines, said catalyst prepared by impregnating a support material selected from the group consisting of δ-alumina, silica, silica-alumina, kieselguhrs, diatomaceous earths and silica - titanias with nickel, rhenium and boron to form a catalyst, and activating said catalyst by heating the catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature in the range of about 200° to about 600° C. for a period of from about 45 minutes about 4 hours to form an activated catalyst, wherein said activated catalyst contains a total nickel, rhenium and boron metal content in the range of from about 3 to about 30% by weight of the support material and the atom ratio of nickel to boron to rhenium is within the range of from about 5:5:1 to about 20:20:1.

Claim 17

A catalyst of high activity and selectivity useful for aminating lower aliphatic alkane derivatives to the corresponding alkyl amines, said catalyst prepared by impregnating a support material selected from the group consisting of δ-alumina, silica, silica-alumina, kieselguhrs, diatomaceous earths and silica - titanias with nickel, rhenium and boron to form a catalyst, and activating said catalyst by heating the catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature in the range of about 200° to about 600° C. for a period of from about 45 minutes about 4 hours to form an activated catalyst, wherein said activated catalyst contains a total nickel, rhenium and boron metal content in the range of from about 3 to about 30% by weight of the support material and the atom ratio of nickel to boron to rhenium is within the range of from about 5:5:1 to about 20:20:1.

Claim 18

The composition of claim 1 which is activated by heating the composition in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature in the range 200°-600° C for a period of 45 minutes to 4 hours.