An alumina support for a catalyst for a gas-phase reaction that increases the catalytic activity and allows a reduction in by-product yield, and a catalyst for a gas-phase reaction that is a metal compound supported on the alumina support are provided. The alumina support for a catalyst for a gas-phase reaction has a tubular shape with at least one hollow through hole and a BET specific surface area of 140 to 280 m.sup.2/g. In this alumina support, a volume (total pore volume) of pores with a diameter of not less than 15 nm and not more than 20000 nm is 0.04 to 0.15 cm.sup.3/g, and a volume of pores with a diameter of not less than 1000 nm and not more than 20000 nm is 0.02 cm.sup.3/g or less, as measured by the mercury intrusion technique, and a tapped bulk density is 620 to 780 g/L.

An alumina support for a catalyst for a gas-phase reaction that increases the catalytic activity and allows a reduction in by-product yield, and a catalyst for a gas-phase reaction that is a metal compound supported on the alumina support are provided. The alumina support for a catalyst for a gas-phase reaction has a tubular shape with at least one hollow through hole and a BET specific surface area of 140 to 280 m.sup.2/g. In this alumina support, a volume (total pore volume) of pores with a diameter of not less than 15 nm and not more than 20000 nm is 0.04 to 0.15 cm.sup.3/g, and a volume of pores with a diameter of not less than 1000 nm and not more than 20000 nm is 0.02 cm.sup.3/g or less, as measured by the mercury intrusion technique, and a tapped bulk density is 620 to 780 g/L.

An alumina support for a catalyst for a gas-phase reaction that increases the catalytic activity and allows a reduction in by-product yield, and a catalyst for a gas-phase reaction that is a metal compound supported on the alumina support are provided. The alumina support for a catalyst for a gas-phase reaction has a tubular shape with at least one hollow through hole and a BET specific surface area of 140 to 280 m.sup.2/g. In this alumina support, a volume (total pore volume) of pores with a diameter of not less than 15 nm and not more than 20000 nm is 0.04 to 0.15 cm.sup.3/g, and a volume of pores with a diameter of not less than 1000 nm and not more than 20000 nm is 0.02 cm.sup.3/g or less, as measured by the mercury intrusion technique, and a tapped bulk density is 620 to 780 g/L.

This invention relates to a catalyst containing from about 2 up to about 8% by wt. of copper, zero up to about 0.6 moles/kg of one or more alkali metal(s), from about 0.08 up about 0.85 moles/kg of one or more alkaline earth metals and from about 0.09 up to about 0.9 moles/kg of one or more transition metals selected from the group consisting of Mn, Re and mixtures thereof, where all the metals are impregnated in form of their chlorides or other water soluble salts on a fluidizable support with a BET surface area of from about 80 up to about 220 m.sup.2/g. A process for the oxychlorination of ethylene to form 1,2-dichloroethane using such a catalyst having good activity, good selectivity and low tendency to stickiness in fluidized bed oxychlorination reactions.

This invention relates to a catalyst containing from about 2 up to about 8% by wt. of copper, zero up to about 0.6 moles/kg of one or more alkali metal(s), from about 0.08 up about 0.85 moles/kg of one or more alkaline earth metals and from about 0.09 up to about 0.9 moles/kg of one or more transition metals selected from the group consisting of Mn, Re and mixtures thereof, where all the metals are impregnated in form of their chlorides or other water soluble salts on a fluidizable support with a BET surface area of from about 80 up to about 220 m.sup.2/g. A process for the oxychlorination of ethylene to form 1,2-dichloroethane using such a catalyst having good activity, good selectivity and low tendency to stickiness in fluidized bed oxychlorination reactions.

This invention relates to a catalyst containing from about 2 up to about 8% by wt. of copper, zero up to about 0.6 moles/kg of one or more alkali metal(s), from about 0.08 up about 0.85 moles/kg of one or more alkaline earth metals and from about 0.09 up to about 0.9 moles/kg of one or more transition metals selected from the group consisting of Mn, Re and mixtures thereof, where all the metals are impregnated in form of their chlorides or other water soluble salts on a fluidizable support with a BET surface area of from about 80 up to about 220 m.sup.2/g. A process for the oxychlorination of ethylene to form 1,2-dichloroethane using such a catalyst having good activity, good selectivity and low tendency to stickiness in fluidized bed oxychlorination reactions.

In an oxychlorination process of the type where ethylene is converted to 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of a supported copper catalyst, the improvement comprising: the use of a supported catalyst prepared by (i) impregnating, within a first step, an alumina support with a first aqueous solution including copper, to thereby form a first catalyst component; and (ii) impregnating, within a subsequent step, the first catalyst component with a second aqueous solution including copper and alkaline earth metal, to thereby form the supported catalyst.

In an oxychlorination process of the type where ethylene is converted to 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of a supported copper catalyst, the improvement comprising: the use of a supported catalyst prepared by (i) impregnating, within a first step, an alumina support with a first aqueous solution including copper, to thereby form a first catalyst component; and (ii) impregnating, within a subsequent step, the first catalyst component with a second aqueous solution including copper and alkaline earth metal, to thereby form the supported catalyst.

In an oxychlorination process of the type where ethylene is converted to 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of a supported copper catalyst, the improvement comprising: the use of a supported catalyst prepared by (i) impregnating, within a first step, an alumina support with a first aqueous solution including copper, to thereby form a first catalyst component; and (ii) impregnating, within a subsequent step, the first catalyst component with a second aqueous solution including copper and alkaline earth metal, to thereby form the supported catalyst.

In an oxychlorination process of the type where ethylene is converted to 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of a supported copper catalyst, the improvement comprising: the use of a supported catalyst prepared by (i) impregnating, within a first step, an alumina support with a first aqueous solution including copper, an alkaline earth metal, and an alkali metal to thereby form a first catalyst component; and (ii) impregnating, within a subsequent step, the first catalyst component with a second aqueous solution including copper and alkaline earth metal, where the second aqueous solution is substantially devoid of alkali metal, to thereby form the supported catalyst.