Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A process for preparing a catalyst composition comprising a copper oxide, a zinc oxide and an aluminum oxide as essential components, which comprises the following steps: (a) a step of precipitating from an aqueous solution of a water-soluble copper salt, a copper component, with the use of ammonium carbonate or ammonium bicarbonate as a precipitant; (b) a step of precipitating from an aqueous solution of a water-soluble zinc salt a zinc component, with the use of an alkali hydroxide as a precipitant; and (c) a step of calcining a mixture of the precipitates obtained in the steps (a) and (b) in the presence of an alumina precursor compound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A process for preparing a catalyst composition comprising a copper oxide, a zinc oxide and an aluminum oxide as essential components, which comprises the following steps: (a) a step of precipitating from an aqueous solution of a water-soluble copper salt, a copper component, with the use of ammonium carbonate or ammonium bicarbonate as a precipitant; (b) a step of precipitating from an aqueous solution of a water-soluble zinc salt a zinc component, with the use of an alkali hydroxide as a precipitant; and (c) a step of calcining a mixture of the precipitates obtained in the steps (a) and (b) in the presence of an alumina precursor compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the steps (a) and (b) are carried out continuously in this sequence or the reverse sequence or the steps (a) and (b) are performed as separate steps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble copper salt is cupric nitrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution of the water-soluble copper salt contains the copper salt in a concentration of 0.1 to 2.0 mol/l.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the ammonium carbonate or ammonium bicarbonate is used in a proportion of at least 0.8 equivalent per equivalent of the copper salt to be precipitated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble zinc salt is zinc nitrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution of the water-soluble zinc salt contains the zinc salt in a concentration of 0.1 to 2.0 mol/l.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the alkali hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the alkali hydroxide is used in a proportion of at least 0.8 equivalent per equivalent of the zinc salt to be precipitated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the steps (a) and (b) are carried out at temperatures of from ambient temperature to about 60° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein after the step (a) and/or the step (b), the resulting slurry is aged for at least 5 minutes at a temperature of about 60 to about 100° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble boron compound is boric acid or borax.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble boron compound is used at a B/Zn atomic ratio of 0.1-1.5 with respect to the water-soluble zinc salt used in the step (b).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the alumina precursor compound is alumina sol, or aluminum hydroxide obtained by precipitation from an aqueous solution of a water-soluble aluminum compound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the alumina sol has an average particle diameter of at most 1 micron.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the alumina precursor compound is used at a ratio, calculated as a Cu/Al atomic ratio, in the range of from 3/1 to 70/1 to the copper component in the mixture of the precipitates.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the calcination is performed at a temperature of at least 300° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catalyst composition as prepared by the process of any one of claims 1 to 7 and 17.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catalyst composition of claim 18 which is a Cu-Zn-Al three-component catalyst containing, on a metal atom ratio basis, 30-70% Cu, 15-50% Zn and 1-20% Al.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catalyst composition of claim 18 which is a Cu-Zn-Al-B four-component catalyst containing, on an element atom ratio basis, 30-70% Cu, 15-50% Zn, 1-16% Al and 0.1-5.0% B.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous copper salt solution or aqueous zinc salt solution additionally contains a water-soluble boron compound from which a boron component is precipitated.