Catalytic oxidation apparatus

Claim 1

A process for catalytically oxidizing a gas containing at least one member selected from a group consisting of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and methyl alcohol comprising (i) utilizing a catalytic oxidation apparatus comprising a cylindrical honeycomb structure including a multiplicity of small passageways extending therethrough in parallel and having an oxidizing catalyst deposited thereon, means for separating a number of the passageways as a catalyst regenerating zone from the other passageways serving as an oxidizing zone, said oxidizing zone being held in communication with a passage for the gas and said catalyst regenerating zone being held in communication with a passage for hot air, means for providing continuously shifting of the passageways which constitute the regenerating zone, and hence those which constitute the ozidizing zone, throughout the entire honeycomb structure circumferentially thereof to continuously render sequential portions of the honeycomb structure serviceable, from portion to portion, as the regenerating zone provided by said number of passageways, the area of the regenerating zone constituting 1/10 to 1/500 of the whole passageway area; and (ii) introducing said gas containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and methyl alcohol into the catalytic oxidation apparatus at a room temperature; and simultaneously introducing a hot gas into the regenerating zone at a temperature of a least 80° C., while continuously shifting said regenerating zone circumferentially of said honeycomb structure.