Catalyst comprising nickel supported on tantalum oxide or niobium oxide and their use as hydrocarbon synthesis catalysts in CO/H2 reactions

Claim 1

A process for the enhanced synthesis of paraffinic hydrocarbons of from 2 to 6 carbon atoms inclusive with reduced production of methane comprising the steps of passing H 2 and CO in an H 2 /CO mole ratio of from about 0.1 to about 10 over a catalyst reduced at a temperature of at least 375° C. comprising nickel on a tantalum or niobium-containing oxide support wherein said tantalum or niobium-containing oxide support is selected from the group consisting of tantalum oxides, niobium oxides, Al 2 O 3 -Ta 2 O 5 , Al 2 O 3 -Nb 2 O 5 , SiO 2 -Ta 2 O 5 , SiO 2 -Nb 2 O 5 , Ta 2 O 5 -carbon, Nb 2 O 5 -carbon, alkaline earth-tantalum oxides, alkaline earth-niobium oxides, alkali-tantalum oxides, alkali-niobium oxides, rare earth-tantalum oxides, rare earth-niobium oxides, Group IVb-tantalum oxides, Group IVb-niobium oxides, and mixtures thereof, at a space velocity of from about 100 hr -1 to about 50,000 hr -1 , at a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 500° C., at a pressure of from about 100 to about 1×10 5 kPa, for a time sufficient to effect the generation of the desired paraffinic product, wherein the concentration of said nickel in said catalyst is from about 0.01 to about 75 wt. %.