W. R. Grace & Co.

Jose E Herrera

Moises G Sanchez

Norman R Laine

Small size alumina particles of controlled sizes suitable for use as a catalyst support can be made from an acidified alumina slurry by spraying under nonatomizing conditions from a nozzle with a gas or inert fluid used to disperse the slurry into small droplets. The droplets can either be sent through an ammoniated kerosene column or the acidified slurry can be spray dried. Small alumina spheroids are produced, which after calcination, have controlled size diameters from about 0.01 mm. to about 2.0 mm.

Alumina spheroids with controlled small particle size and a process for

A thermally stable, pure transition alumina extrudate suitable for use as a catalyst support has a uniquely defined bimodal pore size distribution and very good mechanical properties. Most of the surface area is in a micropore region having pores of less than 500 Angstrom units, a pore volume of 0.60 to 0.80 cm..sup.3 /g., a narrowly defined effective pore volume distribution within this region and a median pore diameter which can be controlled within the range of 90-210 Angstrom units. The macropore region made of pores having diameters of 1,000- 10,000 Angstrom units has a pore volume of at least 0.10 cm..sup.3 /g. These two pore volumes are essentially connected directly to each other. The extrudates can be strengthened by acidic additives and given increased thermal stability by adding rare earth oxides.

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Ellicott City, MD, United States of America

Jose E Herrera