Catalysts containing tungstate for the synthesis of alkylmercaptane and method for the production thereof

1. A supported catalyst comprising a support material and a catalytically active tungstate which contains at least two chemically bound alkali metals which are different elements and tungsten in a molar ratio of the sum of the alkali metals to tungsten of <2:1, cesium occurring only in combination with another alkali element.

2. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , consisting of a coated catalyst in which a support core is coated with the catalytically active tungstate with a support material impregnated with this tungstate.

3. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which the support material impregnated with the catalytically active tungstate has been processed to give an unsupported catalyst.

4. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which the surface of a support body is impregnated with a catalytically active oxidic composition composed of alkali metals and tungsten with a molar ratio of alkali metals to tungsten of <2:1.

5. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which the molar ratio of alkali metals to tungsten in the tungstate is <2:1 to 0.9:1.

6. The supported catalyst according to claim 5 , in which the ratio ranges from 1.9:1 to 1:1.

7. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which a catalytically active oxidic composition corresponds to the general formula

A x WO y in which

A:

is at least two alkali metal

x:

is 0.9 to <2 for the sum of at least two alkali metals

y:

is 3.4 to <4.

8. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , comprising tungstate in an amount of 8 to 45% by weight, preferably 20 to 36% by weight.

9. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which the support material consists of an oxidic inorganic compound.

10. The supported catalyst according to claim 9 , in which the support material consists of aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ).

11. The supported catalyst according to claim 9 , in which the support material has a specific surface area of 180 to 400 m 2 /g (BET) and a total pore volume of 0.3 to 1.2 ml/g.

12. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which the alkali metals are potassium and cesium.

13. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which the alkali metals are sodium and cesium.

14. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which the alkali metals are rubidium and cesium.

15. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which the alkali metals are sodium and potassium.

16. The supported catalyst according to claim 1 , in which the alkali metals are rubidium and potassium.

17. A process for preparing a supported catalyst comprising a support material and an alkali metal tungstate comprising:

a) impregnating the support material with an aqueous solution which comprises soluble alkali metal and tungsten compounds in the desired molar alkali metal/tungsten ratio,

b) predrying of the resulting impregnated shaped body or of the finely divided support material (catalyst precursor) at room temperature,

c) optional drying at 100 to 200° C. to remove the residual moisture,

d) subsequent calcining at temperatures of 300 to 600° C. for the period of 2 to 10 hours,

e) obtaining the supported catalyst or the impregnated finely divided support material with a content of 8 to 45% by weight of a promoter of the general composition

A x WO y in which

A is at least two alkali metals which are different elements,

x is <2 for the sum of at least two alkali metals which are different elements and

y is <4, and

f) suspending the finely divided impregnated support material with addition of known assistants and applied to an inert support core or extruded and compressed.

18. The process according to claim 17 , wherein steps a to c, and optionally d, are repeated at least once.

19. The process according to claim 17 , such that in the case of repeated impregnation, the impregnation solution used first comprises one to two thirds of the intended total amount of alkali metals and tungsten.

20. The process according to claim 17 , such that the support material is sprayed repeatedly with the impregnation solution and portions of the residual moisture are removed at a temperature up to 120° C. between these treatment steps, before moving on to treatment step b).

21. The process according to claim 17 , such that the catalyst is heat-treated after the application of the impregnated support material to the core after the extrusion or compression step.

22. The process according to claim 1 for preparing alkyl mercaptans by reacting alkanols and hydrogen sulphide in the presence of the catalyst.

23. The process according to claim 22 for preparing methyl mercaptan by reacting methyl alcohol and hydrogen sulphide.

24. The process according to claim 17 , such that the content of the promoter is 15 to 36% by weight.