Rhone-poulenc Specialites Chimiques

Rhone-poulenc Industries

Roland Jacques

Laurent Seigneurin

Michel Reppelin

Regis Poisson

Thierry Dupin

Gilbert Bouge

An improved fluorinated siliceous catalyst, well adapted for the catalytic synthesis of aromatic/aliphatic nitriles from their corresponding formamides, formanilides or amides, is comprised of a plurality of silica particulates, the specific surface of which ranging from about 200 to about 300 m.sup.2 /g, having a total pore volume ranging from about 1 to about 1.5 cm.sup.3 /g, with an average pore diameter ranging from about 100 to about 200 .ANG., having an exchange pH of less than about 3, and with the fluorine content thereof bonded to the silica, expressed in F.sup.31 , ranging from about 0.05 to about 2% by weight based upon the silica, and the sodium content thereof, expressed as Na.sub.2 O, being less than about 1% by weight, also based upon the silica.

Fluorinated silica catalyst and preparation of aromatic/aliphatic

Mechanically strong, H.sub.2 O-stable, macroporous spheroidal silica particulates, well adopted as catalysts/catalyst supports, are produced by (i) granulating and agglomerating a particular hydrosol of silica with a particular silica xerogel or aerogel, and (ii) drying the resultant silica particulates.

Novel spheroidal silica particulates

Spheroidal alumina particulates well adapted as catalysts or catalyst supports and having enhanced pore volumes are facilely prepared by drop coagulating an aqueous suspension or dispersion of alumina, or an aqueous solution of a basic aluminum salt, said suspension, dispersion or solution comprising an oil-in-water emulsion, and then recovering, drying and calcining the gelled particulates which result.

Preparation of spheroidal alumina particulates

An improved fluorinated siliceous catalyst, well adapted for the catalytic synthesis of aromatic/aliphatic nitriles from their corresponding formamides, formanilides or amides, is comprised of a plurality of silica particulates, the specific surface of which ranging from about 200 to about 300 m.sup.2 /g, having a total pore volume ranging from about 1 to about 1.5 cm.sup.3 /g, with an average pore diameter ranging from about 100 to about 200 .ANG., having an exchange pH of less than about 3, and with the fluorine content thereof bonded to the silica, expressed in F.sup.-, ranging from about 0.05 to about 2% by weight based upon the silica, and the sodium content thereof, expressed as Na.sub.2 O, being less than about 1% by weight, also based upon the silica.

Aromatic/aliphatic nitriles having the formula:

Preparation of aromatic/aliphatic nitriles

Spheroidal alumina particulates having bifold porosity are prepared by (i) intimately admixing, at a pH of less than about 7.5, (a) a sol of a member selected from the group consisting of ultrafine boehmite and pseudo-boehmite, said sol being devoid of amorphous alumina and the concentration by weight thereof, in content by weight of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, being between 5 and 25%, with (b) from 30 to 95% by weight, based upon the total solids content of the admixture, of spheroidal alumina particulates essentially completely in at least one of the phases eta, gamma, delta and theta, such particulates having a micropore volume ranging from about 0.4 to 1 cm.sup.3 /g, a specific surface ranging from about 100 to 350 m.sup.2 /g, and particle diameters ranging from about 1 to 50 microns; (ii) prilling said intimate admixture into spheroidal particulates and gelling the same; and then, (iii) recovering, drying and calcining said gelled particulates at a temperature of from 550.degree. to 1100.degree. C. The resultant particulates having bifold porosity are useful as catalysts or catalyst supports.

Spheroidal alumina particulates having bifold porosity and process for

Spheroidal alumina shaped articles are prepared by dispersing an ungelled admixture of an alumina sol and hexamethylenetetramine, in the form of droplets, into a liquid forming medium which is but very slightly miscible with water, said medium being at a temperature of between about 50.degree. and 105.degree. C., next aging the alumina spheres thus shaped at a temperature greater than about 105.degree. C. at superatmospheric pressure, then secondarily aging said alumina spheres in a basic medium, and thence washing, drying and calcining said aged alumina spheres. The resultant shaped articles are useful, e.g., catalysts or catalyst carriers/supports.

Production of spheroidal alumina shaped articles

Agglomerated siliceous bodies exhibiting superior mechanical properties are disclosed, as well as the process therefor. Shaped articles of superior mechanical strength are produced by carefully controlled partial desiccation of silica hydrogel particles followed by compression thereof to a shape-sustaining mass.

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Ales, France

Roland Jacques