Patent ID: 7811963

Claim:
A shaped catalyst or catalyst precursor containing a catalytically active component or a precursor thereof, supported on a carrier, which carrier is an elongated shaped particle comprising three to six protrusions, said particle comprising two protrusions, each protrusion extending from and attached to a central position, wherein the central position is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the particle, to which protrusions one to four additional protrusions are attached; the cross-section of two protrusions attached to a central position occupying the space encompassed by the outer edges of six circles around a central circle, each of the six circles touching two neighbouring circles whilst two alternating circles are equidistant to the central circle and may be attached to the central circle and the two circles adjacent to the two alternating circles, but not the common circle touching the central circle, minus the space occupied by the four remaining outer circles and including four remaining interstitial regions; the one to four additional protrusions, each attached to a protrusion as defined above, each being defined in the same way as above, the protrusion to which an additional protrusion is attached becoming the new central circle, and the original central circle becoming the other protrusion.