Patent ID: 6706247
Filing Date: 2004-03-16
Classification: B01J

Abstract:
A method for preventing uncontrolled exothermic catalysis of hydrogen gas in ambient air, comprising the steps of:providing a finely divided powder of a catalyst composite, said catalyst composite powder comprising a catalyst metal dispersed on the surface of an inert porous substrate material, said catalyst metal selected from the group of elements from the Periodic Table of Elements consisting of New IUPAC Groups 8-10, rhenium, and combinations and alloys thereof; fixing a first quantity of said catalyst composite powder into one or more pieces of a wax or wax-like material, wherein said wax or wax-like material has a melting point between about 60Â° C. and 100Â° C.; exposing said catalyst composite powder to a source of hydrogen gas, wherein a catalytic reaction is initiated between oxygen in said ambient air and said hydrogen gas at said catalyst composite powder, said catalytic reaction elevating the temperature of said catalyst composite powder and causing a portion of said wax or wax-like material to melt locally as the temperature of said catalyst composite powder exceeds said melting point; and forming a permeation barrier around said catalyst composite powder by coating said catalyst composite powder with a quantity of said melted wax or wax-like material.