Spherical catalyst supports

1. A catalyst support comprising a substantially spherical body, the spherical body penetrated with a plurality of tunnels extending from a first end on one surface location of the substantially spherical body to a second end on another surface location of the substantially spherical body, the spherical body comprising a total surface including an outer surface and surfaces within the plurality of tunnels, the total surface comprising a surface adapted to receive thereon a catalyst composition, the catalyst support adapted to packing in a tubular bed within a packed bed reactor thereby reducing catalyst bridging as compared to cylindrical catalyst, and the catalyst support adapted to provide a lower pressure drop for the same bed height as compared to dimensionally similar cylindrical catalyst that also have tunnels, and higher conversion rate than cylindrical catalyst.

2. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein the substantially spherical body further comprises on surfaces thereof a catalyst selected from the group of metals consisting of nickel, cobalt, platinum, ruthenium, palladium, ruthenium, copper, zinc, iron and mixtures or alloys thereof.

3. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of tunnels comprises substantially cylindrical side walls and has the same diameter.

4. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein each tunnel has a linear axis.

5. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein each tunnel comprises substantially cylindrical side walls and has an internal diameter of from about 8% to about 20% of the diameter of the spherical body.

6. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein each tunnel of the plurality of tunnels is substantially parallel to others of the plurality of tunnels.

7. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein the spherical body of the catalyst support is comprised of any one or more of alumina, silicates, alumina silicate, calcium aluminate and its hydrates, magnesium aluminate and its hydrates, magnesium oxide, combinations of alumina oxide and oxides of rare earth metals, and diatomaceous earth.

8. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tunnels comprises from 3 to 7 tunnels.

9. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein the substantially spherical catalyst body comprises a diameter in the range from 12 to 75 mm.

10. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein the substantially spherical catalyst body comprises a diameter in the range from 12 to 26 mm.

11. The catalyst support of claim 1 , wherein the substantially spherical catalyst body comprises a diameter in the range from 30 to 75 mm.

12. A catalyst support comprising a substantially spherical body, the substantially spherical body penetrated with a plurality of tunnels extending from a first end on one surface location of the spherical body to a second end on another surface location of the substantially spherical body, the substantially spherical body comprising a total surface including an outer surface and surfaces within the plurality of tunnels, the total surface adapted to receive thereon a catalyst composition, the catalyst support adapted for packing in a bed within a tubular bed of a packed bed reactor thereby reducing catalyst bridging in the tubular bed as compared to cylindrical catalyst, and the catalyst support adapted to provide a lower pressure drop for the same bed height as compared to dimensionally similar cylindrical catalyst that also have tunnels, and higher conversion rate than cylindrical catalyst.

13. The catalyst support of claim 12 , wherein each tunnel comprises has an internal diameter of from about 8 to about 20% of the diameter of the spherical body.

14. The catalyst support of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of tunnels is substantially parallel.

15. The catalyst support of claim 12 , wherein the spherical body of the catalyst support is comprised of any one or more of alumina, silicates, alumina silicate, calcium aluminate and its hydrates, magnesium aluminate and its hydrates, magnesium oxide, combinations of alumina oxide and oxides of rare earth metals, and diatomaceous earth.

16. The catalyst support of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of tunnels comprises from 3 to 7 tunnels.

17. The catalyst support of claim 12 , wherein the substantially spherical catalyst body comprises a diameter in the range from 12 to 75 mm.

18. The catalyst support of claim 12 , wherein the substantially spherical catalyst body comprises a diameter in the range from 12 to 26 mm.

19. A catalyst support comprising a substantially spherical body, the substantially spherical body penetrated with from 3 to about 7 tunnels extending from a first end on one surface location of the spherical body to a second end on another surface location of the substantially spherical body, the tunnels each having an internal diameter ranging from about 8 to about 20% of the diameter of the spherical body; the substantially spherical body comprising a total surface including an outer surface and surfaces within the tunnels, the total surface comprising a surface adapted to receive thereon a catalyst composition comprising any one or more of surfaces thereof a catalyst selected from the group of metals consisting of nickel, cobalt, platinum, ruthenium, palladium, ruthenium, copper, zinc, iron and mixtures and alloys thereof, the catalyst support adapted for packing in a bed within a tubular bed of a packed bed reactor thereby reducing catalyst bridging as compared to cylindrical catalyst, and the catalyst support adapted to provide a lower pressure drop for the same bed height as compared to dimensionally similar cylindrical catalyst that also have tunnels, and higher conversion rate than cylindrical catalyst.

20. The catalyst support of claim 19 , wherein the tunnels are substantially parallel to each other.