Process for the production of formaldehyde from methane
AssigneeW. R. Grace & Co.
InventorNicholas D. Spencer
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Abstract
Formaldehyde is made from methane and a molecular oxygen containing gas by using a silica supported catalyst having less than 350 parts per million by weight of sodium and having a catalytically effective amount of V.sub.2 O.sub.5. The low sodium form of the silica support can be made by washing silica gel or precipitated silica or by using a fumed silica. In general, the lower the sodium level, the better is the catalyst.
Claims15
A process to make formaldehyde from methane comprising partially oxidizing methane with a molecular oxygen containing gas over a catalyst comprising V.sub.2 O.sub.5 on a silica support having a low sodium content of less than 350 ppm, said amount of V.sub.2 O.sub.5 being at least a catalytically effective amount and up to an amount where the V content is about 50% by weight of the catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.