Non-zeolitic nanocomposite materials for solid acid catalysis

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention relates to a catalytic compound of anion-modified metal oxides doped with metal ions. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of isomerizing an alkane or alkyl moiety.

1 . A catalytic compound represented by the generalized formula:  
         R 1 /R 4 /R 2 —R 3    wherein: 
 R 1  is a metal or metal alloy or bimetallic system;  
 R 2  is any metal dopant;  
 R 3  is a metallic oxide or mixtures of any metallic oxide;  
 R 4  is selected from WO x , MoO x , SO 4   2−  or PO 4   3− ; and  
 x is a whole or fractional number between 2 and 3 inclusive.  
   
     
     
         2 . The catalytic compound of  claim 1 , wherein R 1  is a Group VIII metal.  
     
     
         3 . The catalytic compound of  claim 1 , wherein R 1  is a combination of Group VIII metals.  
     
     
         4 . The catalytic compound of  claim 2 , wherein R 1  is selected from platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, or a combination of these.  
     
     
         5 . The catalytic compound of  claim 1 , wherein R 1  is selected from an alloy or bimetallic systems Pt—Sn, Pt—Pd, or Pt—Ge.  
     
     
         6 . The catalytic compound of  claim 1 , wherein R 2  is selected from the group Al 3+ , Ga 3+ , Ce 4+ , Sb 5+ , Sc 3+ , Mg 2+ , Co 2+ , Fe 3+ , Cr 3+ , Y 3+ , Si 4+ , and In 3+ .  
     
     
         7 . The catalytic compound of  claim 6 , wherein R 2  is Al 3+ .  
     
     
         8 . The catalytic compound of  claim 1 , wherein R 3  is selected from zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, ferric oxide, or cerium oxide.  
     
     
         9 . The catalytic compound of  claim 8 , wherein R 3  is ZrO 2 .  
     
     
         10 . The catalytic compound of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of metal dopant to metal in the oxide is less than or equal to about 0.20.  
     
     
         11 . The catalytic compound of  claim 10 , wherein the ratio of metal dopant to metal in the oxide is less than or equal to about 0.05.  
     
     
         12 . The catalytic compound of  claim 10 , wherein the ratio of metal dopant to metal in the oxide is about 0.05.  
     
     
         13 . The catalytic compound of  claim 1 , wherein R 4  is WO x , wherein x is a whole or fractional number between 2 and 3 inclusive.  
     
     
         14 . The catalytic compound of  claim 13 , wherein x is about 3.  
     
     
         15 . The catalytic compound of  claim 13 , wherein x is about 2.9.  
     
     
         16 . A method of alkane or alkyl moiety isomerization comprising the reaction step of contacting a catalyst with an alkyl, wherein said catalyst is selected from the compounds represented by the generalized structure:  
         R 1 /R 4 /R 2 —R 3    wherein: 
 R 1  is a metal or metal alloy or bimetallic system;  
 R 2  is any metal dopant;  
 R 3  is a metallic oxide or mixtures of any metallic oxide;  
 R 4  is selected from WO x , MoO x , SO 4   2−  or PO 4   3− ; and  
 x is a whole or fractional number between 2 and 3 inclusive.  
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the alkane isomerization is a straight chain alkane isomerization.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the alkane isomerization is a C 4 -C 10  alkane isomerization.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the alkyl isomerization is C 6 -C 8  alkane isomerization.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reaction step occurs at less than 210° C.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reaction step occurs at less than 170° C.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reaction step occurs at less than 150° C.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reaction yield is greater than 70%.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the reaction yield is greater than 80%.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the alkane isomerization increases the octane number of the alkane.  
     
     
         26 . The catalytic compound represented by the formula Pt/WO 3 /Al—ZrO 2.