Texaco Inc.

Gas Research Institute

Other

Ronald L Cook

Anthony F Sammells

Abraham Morduchowitz

Andrew Ross Barron

Nirupama U Pujare

D Brent MacQueen

Chuansheng Bai

Aivaras Kareiva

Charles Jeffrey Harlan

Robert C MacDuff

A method has been developed for the solution-based metal exchange of carboxylato-alumoxanes &lsqb;Al(O),(OH),(O,CR),&rsqb;,with a wide range of metal cations. Metal-exchanged carboxylato-alumoxanes are new, particularly those in which about 10% to about 50% or more of the Al ions are exchanged for other metal ions. Additionally, the carboxylic acid ligands can be stripped from the boehmite core of metal-exchanged carboxylato-alumoxanes at low temperature leading to the formation of metal-exchanged boebmite particles. These new material phases can be used as intermediates for preparation of mixed metal aluminum oxide materials. Thermolysis of the metal-exchanged carboxylato-alumoxanes or metal-exchanged boehmite particles results in doped aluminas (M/Al,O,), binary (MAlO,), ternary (MM&prime;AlO,) and even more complex metal aluminum oxide compounds, where M and M&prime; are metal ions other than those of aluminum and are preferably those of Lanthanide metals or transition metals. The method allows preparation of pure phase materials as well as the preparation of metastable metal aluminum oxide phases. The carboxylato-alumoxanes are prepared by the reaction of boehmite (or pseudoboehmite) with carboxylic acids in a suitable solvent. Up to at least half of the aluminum cations in the boehmite lattice of the carboxylato-alumoxanes can be replaced by the reaction of metal acetylacetonates with the carboxylato-alumoxane in a suitable solvent. The metal exchange reaction can also be carried out by reaction with soluble metal salts. Reactions of boehmite with the metal acetylacetonates (or soluble metal salts) do not lead to the metal exchange reaction observed for the carboxylato-alumoxanes.

Metal-exchanged carboxylato-alumoxanes and process of making metal-doped alumina

A process for photoelectrochemical reduction of CO.sub.2 and/or CO to gaseous hydrocarbons, predominately methane, in a liquid aqueous containing electrolyte dispersion of semiconductors in the presence of copper which may be deposited on the semiconductor surface or dispersed in the electrolyte and transiently in contact with the semiconductor surface.

Photoelectrochemical reduction of carbon oxides

A solid oxide fuel cell and process for direct conversion of natural gas into DC electricity concurrently with the electrocatalytic partial oxidation of methane to C.sub.2 hydrocarbon species C.sub.2 H.sub.4, C.sub.2 H.sub.6, and minor amounts of C.sub.2 H.sub.2.

Electrocatalytic oxidative dimerization of methane

A process and apparatus for gas phase electrochemical reduction of CO.sub.2 and/or CO to hydrocarbons at ambient temperatures. The process is carried out by passing an electrical current between a cathode in contact with one side of a hydrogen ion conducting solid polymer electrolyte and an anode in ionic communication with the opposite side of the solid polymer electrolyte. In one embodiment, the anode material may be in contact with the opposite side of the hydrogen ion conducting solid polymer electrolyte, and in another embodiment, an anode may be separated from the opposite side of the solid polymer electrolyte by an aqueous inorganic salt solution. At least one of CO.sub.2 and CO are passed in contact with the cathode and hydrogen ions passing through the solid polymer electrolyte reduce at least a portion of the CO.sub.2 and CO to gaseous hydrocarbon products such as CH.sub.4 and C.sub.2 H.sub.4 at the solid polymer electrolyte/cathode interface.

Gas phase CO.sub.2 reduction to hydrocarbons at solid polymer

A process for electrochemical reduction of CO.sub.2 to CH.sub.4 and C.sub.2 H.sub.4 providing both high current densities and high Faradaic efficiencies. The process is carried out in an electrochemical cell wherein copper is electrodeposited in situ on the cathode surface making freshly deposited copper available for the electrochemical reduction. Faradaic efficiencies of about 75 to about 98 percent for production of CH.sub.4 and C.sub.2 H.sub.4 are obtained.

Electrochemical reduction of CO.sub.2 to CH.sub.4 and C.sub.2 H.sub.4

A method and apparatus for providing two chemical products includes a reaction cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber. The anode chamber is separated from the cathode chamber by an ionic transfer membrane. Each chamber has an electrode connected to a source of DC voltage. A first electrolyte with a first sparging gas is provided to the anode chamber, while a second electrolyte with a second sparging gas is provided to the cathode chamber. The DC voltage, in cooperation with the electrolytes and the sparging gases causes products to form, one in each chamber. The first product is removed from the reacted electrolyte that emerges from the anode chamber while the second product is removed from the reacted electrolyte emerging from the cathode chamber.

Means and method for providing two chemical products from electrolytes

A method deriving phenyl isocyanate includes providing an electrolyte. The electrolyte is separated by an ion transferrable member so as to form a catholyte and an anolyte from the electrolyte. A cathode is placed in the catholyte and an anode is placed in the anolyte. Benzene and potassium isocyanate are provided to the anolyte. An electric voltage is applied across the cathode and the anode causing a reaction of the benzene and potassium isocyanate to yield phenyl isocyanate.

Method for deriving phenyl isocyanate from benzene and potassium

Method and apparatus for forming ethylene glycol from sodium methoxide includes combining the sodium methoxide with an anhydrous methanol to provide a mixture. The mixture is then flowed past an anode and then past a cathode. A DC voltage is provided across the anode and the cathode so that the mixture forms ethylene glycol as a product.

Method for forming ethylene glycol from sodium methoxide

Apparatus for reducing oxalic acid to a product includes a cell. A separator which separates the cell into two chambers; a catholyte chamber and an anolyte chamber. Each chamber has an inlet and an outlet. A porous cathode having a catalyst is arranged within the catholyte chamber so that an aqueous catholyte, having ammonium chloride, entering the inlet of the catholyte chamber will pass through the cathode. A porous anode is arranged within the anolyte section so that an aqueous electrolyte, having ammonium chloride, entering the inlet of the anolyte section will pass through the anode and exit through the outlet of anolyte section. A source provides the catholyte which is a mixture of oxalic acid and an aqueous electrolyte, having ammonium chloride, to the inlet of the catholyte chamber while another source provides the electrolyte to the inlet of the anolyte chamber. A d.c. voltage is provided between the cathode and the anode so as to cooperate in the reduction of oxalic acid within the porous cathode to a product which exits the catholyte chamber by way of its outlet.

Electrolytic method for reducing oxalic acid to a product

Apparatus and method for the electrochemical reduction of a nitroaromatic to a dye includes a housing divided into two sections by membrane. An electrolyte solution including a non-aqueous electrolyte dimethylformamide and a supporting electrolyte is provided to the two sections of the housing. A cathode is located in one section of the housing while an anode is located in the other section. A nitroaromatic is provided to the section having the cathode. A direct voltage is provided to the cathode and to the anode so that a current can pass and cooperate in a reaction between the nitroaromatic and the electrolyte solution to provide a dye.

Means and method for the electrochemical reduction of a nitroaromatic to

Apparatus for the carbonylation of nitrobenzene or 2-5 dinitrotoluene with carbon dioxide to provide a product includes a housing which contains an electrolyte solution having a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a supporting electrolyte. A membrane divides the housing into two sections while permitting ions to move between the two sections. Carbon dioxide and nitrobenzene or 2-5 dinitrotoluene are provided to the housing. A d.c. voltage is provided across the electrolyte solution in the two sections of the housing, to cooperate in a reaction of the carbon dioxide, the nitrobenzene or the 2-5 dinitrotoluene and the electrolyte solution to provide a chemical product.

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Aurora, IL, United States of America

Ronald L Cook