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Title: Methanation catalyst recovery

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6615186

Shell Oil Co. has developed a new system to recover the catalyst used for methanation processes in solids or liquids gasification. Methane is continuously produced by contacting a sulfur-containing gaseous reactant mixture (hydrogen, carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide) in a reaction zone maintained at temperatures above about 932/sup 0/F (500/sup 0/C) with a molten-metal salt-based catalyst system. This system consists of a molten-metal salt carrier selected from the class consisting of the halides of zinc and cadmium, and their mixtures, melting below 1832/sup 0/F (1000/sup 0/C). Dispersed within the molten salt are one or more catalytically active metals selected from the group consisting of iron, molybdenum, manganese, nickel, cobalt, zinc, titanium, silver, copper, and thorium in the form of finely divided elemental metals, metal oxides, and/or metal carbides. A gaseous product mixture is formed and a portion of the molten-metal salt halide is converted to a metal sulfide (a sulfide of the metal salt) to form a metal-salt mixture. The recovery process comprises separating the metal sulfide, contacting the sulfide with a hydrogen halide at a reduced temperature, and recycling the resultant molten-metal salt halide to the methanation reactor.

Assignee:
Shell Oil Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 4006177
OSTI ID:
6615186
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English