Nickel selectivity, sulfur effect

This paper surveys the field of methanation from fundamentals through commercial application. Thermodynamic data are used to predict the effects of temperature, pressure, number of equilibrium reaction stages, and feed composition on methane yield. Mechanisms and proposed kinetic equations are reviewed. These equations cannot prove any one mechanism however, they give insight on relative catalyst activity and rate-controlling steps. Derivation of kinetic equations from the temperature profile in an adiabatic flow system is illustrated. Various catalysts and their preparation are discussed. Nickel seems best nickel catalysts apparently have active sites with AF 3 kcal which accounts for observed poisoning by sulfur and steam. Carbon laydown is thermodynamically possible in a methanator, but it can be avoided kinetically by proper catalyst selection. Proposed commercial methanation systems are reviewed. 

The molecular size distributions and the size-distribution profiles for the nickel-, vanadium-, and sulfur-containing molecules in the asphaltenes and maltenes from six petroleum residua were determined using analytical and preparative scale gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The size distribution data were useful in understanding several aspects of residuum processing. A comparison of the molecular size distributions to the pore-size distribution of a small-pore desulfurization catalyst showed the importance of the catalyst pore size in efficient residuum desulfurization. In addition, differences between size distributions of the sulfur- and metal-containing molecules for the residua examined helped to explain reported variations in demetallation and desulfurization selectivities. Finally, the GPC technique also was used to monitor effects of both thermal and catalytic processing on the asphaltene size distributions. 

Thiolate ions react with a-(alkylthio)carbonyl compounds to afford disulfides and the corresponding reduced ketone (equation 26). The reaction apparently involves direct nucleophilic attack by thiolate on the sulfur atom of the alkylthio group. Other soft bases, such as cyanide ion, thiourea and tertiary phosphines, also effect this conversion. Raney nickel of course readily desulfurizes a-alkylthiocarbonyl compounds. The reaction is quite selective for example, the ester, ketone and alkenic moieties of (43) are unaffected by the Raney nickel treatment (equation 27). Raney nickel reduction of (44) is reported to proceed with retention of configuration in ethanol and with inversion in acetone. Telluride salts also desulfurize a-alkylthio ketones. ... 

Catalyst Type - Nickel metal catalyst, sometimes promoted with copper, aluminum oxide, or sulfur, are commonly used in commercial hydrogenation. These catalysts are prepared by a variety of techniques, some proprietary to the catalyst supplier, to provide the surface activity necessary for the desired selectivity. Precious metals have been found to be effective hydrogenation catalysts, which are more active at lower temperatures and produce less trans-isomers. However, their use has been deterred by the initial cost and recovery problems associated with the minute quantities required. 

The different reactivities of the two substituents on C-l allow selective replacement and conversion of them. Alkyl monothio-acetals [proposed as intermediates in mercury(II)-catalyzed demer-captalation reactions—see Section IV,l,b] have been prepared from a-bromothioethers by the combined action of an alcohol and silver(I) carbonate the introduction of S-nucleophiles is discussed in Section 11,6. Reduction of 81 by lithium aluminum hydride effects hydrogen-olysis of the carbon-halogen bond, whereas the action of Raney nickel on the derived S-ethyl O-methyl monothioacetal specifically cleaves the carbon-sulfur bond to afford the pentaacetate of 1-0-methyl-D-galactitol.327... 

Improvements in acrylonitrile yield are also reported with other vapor phase promoters. A patent assigned to Monsanto Co. (125) describes the use of sulfur and sulfur-containing compounds in the feed gas mixture for production of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile from propane or isobutane over metal oxide catalysts. Examples of effective sulfur-containing compounds include alkyl or dialkyl sulfides, mercaptans, hydrogen sulfide, ammonium sulfide, and sulfiir dioxide. Best results are apparently achieved using a molar ratio of sulfur (or sulfur compound) to hydrocarbon of 0.0005 1 to 0.01 1. Nitric oxide has also been examined as a gas-phase promoter for propane and isobutane ammoxidation (126). However, it does not appear to be as effective as halogen or sulfur. Selectivities to acrylonitrile from propane are only about 30% over an alumina-supported chromium-nickel oxide catalyst. 

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