Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A catalytic method for the production of monochloromethane with recoverable concentrations of formic acid in aqueous solution but with limited polychloromethane production comprising: providing an oxyhydrochlorination catalyst including a pyrogenic support material, a first layer of catalyst including a metal chloride deposited on the support material, said metal chloride selected from the group consisting of chlorides of cobalt, lead, silver and nickel, and a second layer of catalyst including an alkali metal chloride and permissibly a rare earth chloride deposited on the support; contacting the catalyst with a reactant gas mixture containing methane, HCl and oxygen at reaction conditions to produce a normalized carbon-product distribution of at least 20 mole % formic acid and monochloromethane in excess of the total polychloromethane production.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A catalytic method for the production of monochloromethane with recoverable concentrations of formic acid in aqueous solution but with limited polychloromethane production comprising: providing an oxyhydrochlorination catalyst including a pyrogenic support material, a first layer of catalyst including a metal chloride deposited on the support material, said metal chloride selected from the group consisting of chlorides of cobalt, lead, silver and nickel, and a second layer of catalyst including an alkali metal chloride and permissibly a rare earth chloride deposited on the support; contacting the catalyst with a reactant gas mixture containing methane, HCl and oxygen at reaction conditions to produce a normalized carbon-product distribution of at least 20 mole % formic acid and monochloromethane in excess of the total polychloromethane production.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the formic acid is separated from other carbon products by condensation in a formic acid-water solution and then concentrated to about 75% to 90% formic acid as a product of the process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the solution of formic acid and water is concentrated by distillation to a constant boiling composition of formic acid and water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the catalyst deposited in the first layer includes a metal chloride selected from the group consisting of chlorides of cobalt, lead and nickel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst deposited in the first layer includes cobaltous chloride in combination with a second layer including potassium chloride and lanthanum chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the catalyst includes PbCl 2 and the gaseous mixture is passed into contact with the catalyst at a temperature of about 350° to 450° C. to produce a mixture of formic acid, chlorinated alkanes and water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas mixture is passed into contact with the catalyst at a temperature of about 300° C. to 400° C. for a residence time of about 7 to 10 seconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas mixture is passed into contact with the catalyst at a temperature of about 340° C. for a residence time of about eight seconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the monochloromethane is separated from the aqueous formic acid and dried followed by reaction over a crystalline aluminosilicate catalyst to produce hydrocarbons in the C-5 to C-10 range and HCl, said HCl is recycled to the oxyhydrochlorination catalyst for reaction with additional methane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the reactant gas mixture includes about equal flows of methane and HCl and an oxygen flow of about one half that of methane.