Structurally modified alumina supports, and heat transfer solids for high temperature fluidized bed reactions

In a process for the production of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from a low molecular weight hydrocarbon by contact with a fluidized bed constituted of catalyst and heat transfer solids resistant to sintering and agglomeration at atemperature of about 1600.degree.-2000.degree. F. in the presence of at least one of steam and oxygen, the improvement wherein the heat transfer solids component of the fluidized bed is comprised of

• a support component comprising particulate alpha alumina solids of fluidizable particle size of 30-150 microns modified by compositing a metal therewith to form particles represented by formulas (1) and (2), a composite particle being represented by formula (1), as follows:
• M.sub.x Al.sub.2 O.sub.3+x ( 1)
• with the core of the particle being represented by formula (2), as follows:
• M.sub.y Al.sub.2 O.sub.3+y ( 2)
• where in formulas (1) and (2)
• M is a Group IIA metal, x is a number ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.4 and representative of the number of moles of the metal M per mole of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, y is a number equal to or greater than zero, and x is greater than y.

A process for the preparation of (i) a heat transfer solid resistant to sintering and agglomeration for admixture with a catalyst to form a fluidized bed, (ii) or support with which a catalytic metal, or metals, can be composited to form a catalyst useful as a fluidized bed component, for the conversion of a low molecular weight hydrocarbon to hydrogen and carbon monoxide on contact therewith at elevated temperature in the presence of at least one of steam and oxygen, which comprises

• modifying particulate alpha alumina solids of fluidizable particle size distribution by compositing a metal therewith to form particles represented by formulas (1) and (2), a composite particle being represented by formula (1), as follows:
• M.sub.x Al.sub.2 O.sub.3+x ( 1)
• with the core of the particle being represented by formula (2), as follows:
• M.sub.y Al.sub.2 O.sub.3+y ( 2)
• where in formulas (1) and (2)
• M is a Group IIA metal, x is a number ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.4 and representative of the number of moles of the metal M per mole of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, y is a number equal to or greater than zero, and x is greater than y.