PROCESS FOR THE CATALYTIC PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN CYANIDE FROM METHANE AND AMMONIA
The invention relates to a catalyst material comprising a support, a first metal and a second metal on said support. The first and second metals are in the form of a chemical compound. The first metal is Fe, Co or Ni, and the second metal is selected from the group consisting of Sn, Zn and In. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) from methane (CH 4 ) and ammonia (NH 3 ), wherein the methane and ammonia are contacted with a catalyst according to the invention.
1 . A catalyst material comprising a support, a first metal and a second metal on said support, wherein said first and second metal are in the form of a chemical compound, where said first metal is Fe, Co or Ni, and where said second metal is selected from the group consisting of Sn, Zn and In.
2 . A catalyst material according to claim 1 , wherein the support comprises an alumina, a spinel of alumina, an oxide, a carbide, a nitride, or a carbonitride.
3 . A catalyst material according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second metal form a ternary compound with carbon or nitrogen.
4 . A catalyst material according to claim 1 , wherein the first metal comprises Co.
5 . A catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the first metal comprises Co and the second metal comprises Sn.
6 . A catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the weight percent of Fe, Co or Ni to Sn, Zn or In is between about 5:1 and 1:5.
7 . A catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the weight percent of Fe, Co or Ni to Sn, Zn or In is about 1:2.4.
8 . A catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the support is a ferromagnetic support.
9 . A catalyst according to claim 8 , wherein the support comprises Co and wherein the second metal is coated onto the support.
10 . A process for the preparation of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) from methane (CH 4 ) and ammonia (NH 3 ), wherein the methane and ammonia are contacted with a catalyst according to claim 1 , and the temperature of the process is less than 1000° C.
11 . A process according to claim 8 , wherein the temperature of the process is between 750° C. and 950° C.
12 . A process according to claim 8 , wherein the support is a ferromagnetic support used as an inductive heating element in the process.
13 . A process according to claim 10 , wherein the support comprises Co and wherein the second metal is coated onto the support.