General Atomic Company

David G Williamson

John H Norman

Dennis R O'Keefe

A two-stage process for the catalytic decomposition of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 wherein H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in vapor form is contacted in a first stage with a platinum group metal catalyst at temperatures between about 700.degree. K. and 970.degree. K. The platinum group metal catalyst is supported on a substrate of titania, barium sulfate, zirconia, silica, zirconium silicate or a mixture thereof, and at least about 40 percent of the H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 is decomposed to SO.sub.2. Vapors from the first stage enter a second stage where they contact a copper oxide and iron oxide catalyst at a temperature above 970.degree. K. The second stage catalyst is supported on a substrate of barium sulfate, zirconium oxide or titanium oxide.

Catalytic decomposition of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4

Hydrogen iodide is efficiently decomposed to hydrogen and iodine by treatment in the liquid phase with a platinum group metal catalyst. At temperatures between about 0.degree. C. and about 150.degree. C. and pressures sufficiently high to maintain the liquid phase, at least about 50 percent of the hydrogen iodide present can be decomposed at a reasonable rate of reaction. The hydrogen which is created is easily separated as a gas. Exemplary catalysts include platinum particles and supported catalysts, such as ruthenium on a titania substrate and platinum on a barium sulfate substrate.

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San Luis Obispo, CA, United States of America

David G Williamson