Patent GB-1057396-A (GB)
Title: Self-irradiated contact material system for carrying out chemical reactions
IPC: C10G15/10
Filed: 1963-06-28
Abstract: A paraffinic oil is cracked using an inorganic solid, such as silica-alumina, impregnated with radio-active thulium.  The silica-alumina is treated with aqueous thulium nitrate and heated to decompose the nitrate.  The impregnated oxide is irradiated with a neutron flux to give radio-active Tm and then contacted with paraffinic gas oil at at least 100 DEG  C. and at least 1 atm. to give products in the gasoline boiling range and branch chain hydrocarbons.  Numerous other reactions involving hydrocarbons or alcohols using radio-active materials are also given, including non-hydrogenative cracking, isomerization, aromatization, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, alkylation, dealkylation and polymerization of hydrocarbons, together with the dehydration of alcohols.ALSO:Nitrogen and oxygen are combined to form nitrogen oxides at 200 DEG  to 400 DEG  F. and 5 to 20 atms. in the presence of radio-active silica-gel. The reaction is performed by forming a composition of the silica gel and a stable inactive nuclide, subjecting the composition to a neutron flux to give a radionuclide, removing the composition to a reaction zone, contacting the composition with nitrogen and oxygen to give the product and separating and recovering the product.ALSO:A radiation induced chemical reaction is performed by forming a composition of a solid inorganic contact material and a stable inactive nuclide, subjecting the composition to a neutron flux to give a radionuclide, removing the composition to a reaction zone, contacting the composition with at least one reactant in the zone to give a product and separating and recovering the product.  The contact material containing the inactive nuclide may be formed by impregnating the material with 1 to 25% of an element or compound thereof having a 2% abundance of an inactive nuclide of neutron cross-section at least 5 barns having a half-life of at least two months and emitting purely beta radiation of at least 0.4 mev. The contact material may incorporate a catalytic or non-catalytic substance.  The contact material may be oxides of Si, Al, Ca, Ba, Ni and Fe; dried hydrated oxides such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, ZrO2, MgO and zinc aluminate; synthetic and natural zeolites including ion exchangers; siliceous earths and clays; ceramics, various silicates and carbons. Nuclides of Tm, Lu, Tl, Co, Se, In, Cs, Sm, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, Re, Ir and Hg may be used and may yield g  or X-rays, electrons or positions.  The neutron flux used is preferably at least 1011 neutrons cm-2. sec-1.  Non-hydrogenerative cracking, isomerisation, aromatization, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, alkylation, dealkylation, and polymerization of hydrocarbons together with the dehydration of alcohol and the formation of nitrogen oxides, are disclosed with reaction conditions.  In an embodiment relating to cracking a paraffinic oil, pelleted silica containing 13% Al2O3 and having a surface area of 500M2/g, 35% pore volume and pore radii 20 to 150 , is impregnated with an aqueous solution of thulium nitrate and then heated to decompose the nitrate.  A neutron flux of 1012 neutrons, cm-2 sec-1 is used to irradiate the treated silica.