Process for producing methane from hydrogen and carbon monoxide

Claim 2

In a process for producing hydrocarbons by contacting carbon monoxide and hydrogen at reactive conditions, the improvement comprising increasing the yield of methane by contacting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst consisting essentially of: (a) a catalytic metal component which is from about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight, based on the weight of the catalyst, of ruthenium; and the balance being (b) a support component which is at least one oxide of tantalum, niobium, vanadium or mixtures thereof, the support preparation including calcination at a temperature such that essentially no crystalline metal oxide is detectable by X-ray diffraction prior to deposition of the catalytic metal thereon.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein the support component is an oxide of tantalum.

Claim 4

The process of claim 2 wherein the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide ranges from about 1 to about 3.

Claim 5

The process of claim 2 wherein the support component has a surface area greater than about 10 m 2 /g.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein the yield is at least 25 percent.

Claim 7

The process of claim 4 wherein the catalytic metal component is from about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight.

Claim 8

The process of claim 1 wherein the contacting is at a temperature of from about 200° C. to about 400° C.

Claim 9

The process of claim 3 wherein the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio is 2 and the pressure is ambient.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 wherein the yield is at least 55 percent.

Claim 11

The process of claim 2 wherein the yield is at least about 85 percent.

Claim 12

The process of claim 1 wherein the support is calcined at from about 100° C. to about 550° C.

Claim 13

In a process for producing methane by contacting carbon monoxide and hydrogen at reactive conditions, the improvement comprising contacting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst composition consisting essentially of: (a) from about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight, based on the weight of the composition, ruthenium; and (b) a support component which is at least one non-crystalline oxide of tantalum, niobium, vanadium or mixtures thereof, the support preparation including calcination at a temperature such that essentially no crystalline metal oxide is detectable by X-ray diffraction prior to deposition of the catalytic metal thereon under conditions sufficient to produce a yield of at least about 25 percent.

Claim 14

In a process for producing methane by contacting carbon monoxide and hydrogen at reactive conditions, the improvement comprising contacting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a catalyst composition consisting essentially of: (a) from about 0.1 to about 10 percent by weight, based on the weight of the composition, ruthenium; and (b) a support component which is at least one non-crystalline oxide of tantalum, niobium, vanadium or mixtures thereof, the support preparation including calcination at a temperature such that essentially no crystalline metal oxide is detectable by X-ray diffraction prior to deposition of the catalytic metal thereon under conditions sufficient to produce a yield of at least about 25 percent.