Carlos Colmenares

US Patent:

50306073, Jul 9, 1991

Filed:

May 5, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/347765

Inventors:

Carlos Colmenares - Alamo CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B01J 2100
B01J 2310
B01J 2312

US Classification:

502240

Abstract:

Method and apparatus (10), including novel photocatalysts, are disclosed for the synthesis of various short chain hydrocarbons. Light-transparent SiO. sub. 2 aerogels doped with photochemically active uranyl ions (18) are fluidized in a fluidized-bed reactor (12) having a transparent window (16), by hydrogen and CO, C. sub. 2 H. sub. 4 or C. sub. 2 H. sub. 6 gas mixtures (20), and exposed to radiation (34) from a light source (32) external to the reactor (12), to produce the short chain hydrocarbons (36).

US Patent:

45322309, Jul 30, 1985

Filed:

Jun 21, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/506559

Inventors:

Carlos A. Colmenares - Alamo CA
Gabor A. Somorjai - Berkeley CA
Joseph J. Maj - Walnut Creek CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States
Department of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B01J 2312
B01J 2304

US Classification:

502344

Abstract:

A ThO. sub. 2 catalyst having a high surface area of about 80-125 m. sup. 2 /g is synthesized. The compound is synthesized by simultaneously mixing an aqueous solution of ThNO. sub. 3 (NO. sub. 3). sub. 4. 4H. sub. 2 O with an aqueous solution of Na. sub. 2 CO. sub. 3. H. sub. 2 O, to produce a solution and solid ThOCO. sub. 3. The solid ThOCO. sub. 3 is separated from the solution, and then calcined at a temperature of about 225. degree. -300. degree. C. for about 40-55 hours to produce ThO. sub. 2. The ThO. sub. 2 catalyst produced includes Na present as a substitutional cation in an amount equal to about 5-10 atom percent.