Thorium-zinc-aluminum oxides catalyst

Three-component catalysts, thorium, zinc, and aluminum oxides, gave results similar to those obtained with ThOy-ZnO catalysts (in the absence of A1203). 

The following nickel-carrier catalysts have been described nickel-kieselguhr,169 nickel-pumice,170 nickel-kieselguhr containing thorium oxide,171 nickel on magnesium oxide, barium oxide, or beryllium oxide,172 nickel on aluminum oxide,173 and nickel-zinc oxide-barium oxide-chromium oxide.174 Other carriers for nickel catalysts are active charcoal, silica, fuller s earth, and oxides such as magnesia, alumina, and bauxite. 

The presence of zinc oxide in thorium catalysts increased the amount of liquid products. The search for a possible substitute for thorium oxide led to the discovery that a two-component catalyst, composed of aluminum and zinc oxides, was capable of catalyzing the formation of higher hydrocarbons as well as that of isobutane. However, the space-time yields obtained with the catalysts of this type are lower than those obtained with the corresponding Th02 catalysts. 

---