Claims
- 1. A method for preparing a contact agent comprising:
- (a) at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal, which oxide is reduced and produces higher hydrocarbon products and water when contacted with methane at a selected temperature in the range of about 500.degree. to about 1000.degree. C.; and
- (b) a support associated with said reducible oxide;
- which method comprises:
- (i) sintering the surface of at least a portion of a support selected from the group consisting of magnesia, silica, and mixtures thereof;
- (ii) combining said support with at least one metal which forms at least one of said reducible oxides; and
- (iii) calcining said combined support and metal.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said sintering comprises heating said support to about 0.33 of the normal melting temperature of the material of said support.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said support comprises magnesia and is sintered at a temperature of about 1690.degree. and about 5070.degree. F.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said support comprises silica and is sintered at a temperature of about 1040.degree. and about 3110.degree. F.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said reducible oxide is selected from the group consisting of manganese, tin, indium, germanium, antimony, lead, bismuth, and mixtures thereof.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said agent comprises additionally a promoting amount of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface area of said support ranges from about 30 to about 90 square meters per gram.
- 8. In an improved composition of matter comprising:
- (a) at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal, which oxide is reduced and produces higher hydrocarbon products and water when contacted with methane at a selected temperature in the range of about 500.degree. to about 1000.degree. C. and
- (b) a support associated with said oxide, the improvement which comprises employing as the support a material selected from the group consisting of magnesia, silica and mixtures thereof, the surface of at least a portion of said support being sintered.
- 9. The composition of claim 8 wherein said sintering comprises heating said support to about 0.33 of the normal melting temperature of the material of said support.
- 10. The composition of claim 8 wherein said support comprises magnesia and is sintered at a temperature of about 1690.degree. and about 5070.degree. F.
- 11. The method of claim 8 wherein said support comprises silica and is sintered at a temperature of about 1040.degree. and about 3110.degree. F.
- 12. The composition of claim 8 wherein said reducible oxide is selected from the group consisting of manganese, tin, indium, germanium, antimony, lead, bismuth, and mixtures thereof.
- 13. The composition of claim 8 wherein said agent comprises additionally a promoting amount of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof.
- 14. The composition of claim 8 wherein the surface area of said support ranges from about 30 to about 90 square meters per gram.
Parent Case Info
This is a division of application Ser. No. 601,136, filed Apr. 16, 1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,568,785.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
71639 |
May 1982 |
JPX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
601136 |
Apr 1984 |
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