Method of producing a raney copper catalyst and the catalyst so made
AssigneeNalco Chemical Company
InventorsKarl H. Hoffmann, Donald R. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved technique for making a Raney copper catalyst by contacting particulate copper/aluminum alloy particles with an aqueous solution containing dissolved therein both alkali metal hydroxide and polyhydroxylated carboxylic acid.
Claims27
In an improved process for preparing a Raney copper catalyst, said catalyst comprising from about 2 to 45 weight percent aluminum with the balance up to 100 weight percent being copper, the improvement which comprises contacting particles of a metal alloy comprised of copper and aluminum with an aqueous solution which had dissolved therein on a 100 weight percent total by-product free solution basis from greater than 0 to about 25 weight percent alkali metal hydroxide and at least one soluble polyhydroxylated carboxylic acid which has a solubility in water at least about 5 weight percent said acid being selected from the group consisting of (a) a compound of the formula:
- HOCH.sub.2 -- (CHOH).sub.n -- COOH
- where n can range from 3 through 6 as well as the alkali metal salts, the ammonium salt, the lower alkanol esters and lactones thereof and (b) citric acid.
In an improved process for making a Raney copper catalyst, said catalyst comprising from about 2 to 45 weight percent aluminum with the balance up to 100 weight percent being copper, the improvement which comprises the step of activating a Raney copper catalyst through contact of aqueous alkali metal hydroxide with a metal alloy in particulate form comprising copper and aluminum thereby to remove from such alloy particles at least about 25 weight percent of the aluminum initially present therein, at least a portion of such contacting being conducted over a time interval of from 1/2 to 30 hours using an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution which additionally contains dissolved therein a polyhydroxylated hydrocarbon compound of the formula:
- HOCH.sub.2 --(CHOH).sub.n --COOH (1)
- where n can range from 3 through 6 as well as the alkali metal salts, the ammonium salt, lower alkanol esters and lactones thereof.
In an improved process for preparing a Raney copper catalyst, said catalyst comprising from about 2 to 45 weight percent aluminum with the balance to 100 weight percent being copper, the improvement which comprises the steps of:
- a. first contacting an aqueous solution of a polyhydroxylated compound with a group of metal alloy particles comprised of copper and aluminum, said polyhydroxylated compound having the formula:
- HOCH.sub.2 --(CHOH).sub.n -- COOH (1)
- where n can range from 3 through 6 as well as the alkali metal salts, the ammonium salt, lower alkanol esters and lactones thereof,
- 1. said solution containing about 0.01 to 1 weight percent of said polyhydroxylated compound in dissolved form,
- 2. said group having an average particle size diameter in the range of from about 0.001 to 0.5 inch,
- 3. said alloy having a copper to aluminum weight ratio of from about 30:70 to 70:30,
- 4. said solution having a temperature in the range from about 0.degree. to 80.degree.C, and
- b. secondly contacting the resulting said group of alloy particles with an aqueous caustic solution,
- 1. said aqueous solution containing greater than 0 to about 5 weight percent dissolved alkali metal hydroxide,
- 2. said contacting being accomplished over a total time interval of from about 1/2 to 30 hours,
- 3. said caustic solution being added gradually to said group over said time interval,
- 4. the contact rate of starting caustic solution being added to said group during such contacting being from about 0.01 to 10 pounds caustic per pound of said starting group of alloy particles per hour,
- 5. the total quantity of caustic so added being in the range of from about 0.5 to 25 pounds of caustic per pound of said starting group of particles,
- 6. said solution and the resulting aqueous medium produced in such contacting each having a temperature in the range from about 0.degree. to 80.degree.C,
- 7. said group being maintained in said contact with said solution of said polyhydroxylated compound during said contacting with said aqueous caustic solution by admixture of such respective solutions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.