Process for the production of high surface area catalyst supports

A process for the production of a high surface area microporous metal carbide or metalloid carbide which possesses a physical configuration replicating that of a carbon-donor substrate consisting essentially of a carbonaceous pyropolymer possessing recurring units containing at least carbon and hydrogen atoms and which itself replicates a highly porous refractory microporous inorganic oxide which comprises the steps of:

• (a) polymerizing an organic pyrolyzable substance containing at least carbon and hydrogen on the surface of said highly porous high surface area inorganic oxide having an internal surface area in the range of from about 1 to about 2000 m.sup.2 /g in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of from about 400.degree. to about 1200.degree. C. to form said carbon-donor substrate consisting essentially of a carbonaceous pyropolymer possessing recurring units containing at least carbon and hydrogen atoms, said carbon-donor substrate replicating said highly porous surface of said refractory inorganic oxide;
• (b) uniformly depositing a carbide-forming metal or metalloid on the internal pore surfaces of said carbon-donor substrate which replicates said highly porous refractory inorganic oxide in the vapor phase at a temperature in the range of from about 300.degree. to about 450.degree. C. to afford a maximum uniform deposition of said metal or metalloid on the surfaces within the internal pore structure of said carbon-donor substrate;
• (c) heating said carbide-forming metal or metalloid on said carbon-donor substrate at a temperature in the range of from about 1000.degree. to about 1800.degree. C. to permit formation of said high surface area microporous metal carbide or metalloid carbide by reaction of said carbide-forming metal or metalloid with said carbon in said carbon-donor substrate wherein the resultant high surface area microporous metal carbide or metalloid carbide possesses a pore structure and physical configuration replicating the shape and dimension as well as a substantial portion of the pore structure of said carbon-donor substrate, and
• (d) recovering said high surface area metal carbide or metalloid carbide from said refractory inorganic oxide and said carbon-donor substrate.