NEW METAL-CARBON CATALYSTS - I - PREPARATION PROCEDURE AND APPLICATION AREA

New metal-filamentous carbon catalytic systems, which differ fundament ally from all known catalysts in structure and preparation procedure, are found. Metal-carbon catalysts are formed by decomposition of hydro carbons over the iron-subgroup metals or their alloys. They contain me tal particles anchored at the ends of the carbon filaments. By varying the conditions of hydrocarbon decomposition, one can impart desired p roperties to metal-carbon systems. These properties allow the use of t he catalysts in complete and selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hy drocarbons and carboxylic acids, steam and CO2 methane conversion, CO methanation, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, hydrodechlorination of chlorob enzene, dehydrogenation of n-butane, and CO oxidation. Depending on th e carbon : metal ratio, the catalysts can be active in both complete a nd selective hydrogenation of dienes and alkynes. At high carbon : met al ratios, the selectivity to olefins is close to 100%.