Haldor Torsoe A/s

Kjeld J Andersen

Jens R Rostrup-Nielsen

Karsten Pedersen

Ib Greve Jorgensen

A gas rich in methane is prepared by the methanantion of a synthesis gas containing carbon oxides, hydrogen and optionally other gases in the presence of one or more gaseous sulphur compounds, normally in an amount of at least 10 ppm preferably at least 200 ppm by volume, calculated as H.sub.2 S, with the aid of a catalyst comprising vanadium and/or molybdenum, which during the process is present as one or more sulphides, on a support comprising titanium dioxide. A high activity and a high selectivity for methane are obtained. A further advantage is that, by far, the main constituent of the higher hydrocarbons formed is ethane, which, by conversion into ethylene, is an important raw material in petrochemical synthesis. The selectivity for methane formation may be further improved by promoting the catalyst with compounds, especially sulphides of metals of groups IA, IIA and/or IIIB, particularly cerium. The invention also relates to the catalyst itself which may be prepared by impregnation or coprecipitation techniques.

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Munich, Georgia

Kjeld J Andersen