Preparative Process for Alkaline Earth Metal, Aluminum-Containing Spinels and Their Use for Reducing the Sulfur Oxide Content of Gases

This invention relates to the improved preparation of alkaline earth metal, aluminum-containing spinel compositions, particularly for use in the combusting of solid, sulfur-containing material in a manner to effect a reduction in the emission of sulfur oxides to the atmosphere. In one specific embodiment, the invention involves the catalytic cracking of sulfur-containing hydrocarbon feedstocks in a manner to effect a reduction in the amount of sulfur oxides emitted from the regeneration zone of a hydrocarbon catalytic cracking unit.

Typically, catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons takes place in a reaction zone at hydrocarbon cracking conditions to produce at least one hydrocarbon product and to cause carbonaceous material (coke) to be deposited on the catalyst. It has been reported that approximately 50% of the feed sulfur is converted to H.sub.2 S in the fluid bed catalytic cracking (FCC) reactor, 40% remains in the liquid products and about 4 to 10% is deposited on the catalyst. These amounts vary with the type of feed, rate of hydrocarbon recycle, steam stripping rate, the type of catalyst, reactor temperature, etc.

Sulfur-containing coke deposits tend to deactivate cracking catalyst. Cracking catalyst is advantageously continuously regenerated, by combustion with oxygen-containing gas in a regeneration zone, to low coke levels, typically below about 0.4% by weight, to perform satisfactorily when it is recycled to the reactor. In the regeneration zone, at least a portion of sulfur, along with carbon and hydrogen, which is deposited on the catalyst, is oxidized and leaves in the form of sulfur oxides (SO.sub.2 and SO.sub.3, hereinafter referred to as "SOx") along with substantial amounts of CO, CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O.

Considerable recent research effort has been directed to the reduction of sulfur oxide emissions from the regeneration zones of hydrocarbon catalytic cracking units. One technique involved circulating one or more metal oxides capable of associating with oxides of sulfur with the cracking catalyst inventory in the regeneration zone. When the particles containing associated oxides of sulfur are circulated to the reducing atmosphere of the cracking zone, the associated sulfur compounds are released as gaseous sulfur-bearing material such as hydrogen sulfide which is discharged with the products from the cracking zone and are in a form which can be readily handled in a typical facility, e.g., petroleum refinery. The metal reactant is regenerated to an active form, and is capable of further associating with the sulfur oxides when cycled to the regeneration zone.

Incorporation of Group II metal oxides on particles of cracking catalyst in such a process has been proposed (U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,031 to Bertolacini). In a related process described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,436 to Blanton, et al., discrete fluidizable alumina-containing particles are circulated through the cracking and regenerator zones along with physically separate particles of the active zeolitic cracking catalyst. The alumina particles pick up oxides of sulfur in the regenerator, forming at least one solid compound, including both sulfur and aluminum atoms. The sulfur atoms are released as volatiles, including hydrogen sulfide, in the cracking unit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,436 further discloses that 0.1 to 10 weight percent MgO and/or 0.1 to 5 weight percent Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 are preferably present in the alumina-containing particles. Chromium is used to promote coke burnoff.

A metallic component, either incorporated into catalyst particles or present on any of a variety of "inert" supports, is exposed alternately to the oxidizing atmosphere of the regeneration zone of a fluid bed catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) and the reducing atmosphere of the cracking zone to reduce sulfur oxide emissions from regenerator gases in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,153,534 and 4,153,535 to Vasalos nd Vasalos, et al., respectively. In Vasalos, et al., a metallic oxidation promoter such as platinum is also present when carbon monoxide emissions are to be reduced. These patents disclose nineteen different metallic components, including materials as diverse as alkaline earths, sodium, heavy metals and rare earth, as being suitable reactants for reducing emissions of oxides of sulfur. The metallic reactants that are especially preferred are sodium, magnesium, manganese and copper. When used as the carrier for the metallic reactant, the supports that are used preferably have a surface area at least 50 square meters per gram. Examples of allegedly "inert" supports are silica, alumina and silica-alumina. The Vasalos and Vasalos, et al., patents further disclose that when certain metallic reactants (exemplified by oxides or iron, manganese or cerium) are employed to capture oxides of sulfur, such metallic components can be in the form of a finely divided fluidizable powder.

Similarly, a vast number of sorbents have been proposed for desulfurization of non-FCCU flue gases in zones outside the unit in which SOx is generated. In some such non-FCCU applications, the sorbents are regenerated in environments appreciably richer in hydrogen than the cracking zone of an FCC unit. Cerium oxide is one of fifteen adsorbents disclosed for flue gas desulfurization in a publication of Lowell, et al., "SELECTION OF METAL OXIDES FOR REMOVING SOx FROM FLUE GAS," Ind. Eng. Chemical Process Design Development, Vol. 10, Nov. 3, 1971. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,001,375 to Longo, cerium on an alumina support is used to absorb SO.sub.2 from non-FCCU flue gas streams or automobile exhaust at temperatures of 572.degree. to 1472.degree. F., preferably 932.degree. to 1100.degree. F. During regeneration the desorbed species is initially SO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S along with excess reducing gases which can be used as feedstock for a Claus unit. The Longo patent is not concerned with reducing emissions from an FCC unit and the reducing emissions from an FCC unit and the reducing atmosphere employed in practice of this process differs significantly from the hydrocarbon-rich atmosphere in a catalytic cracker. Thus, a hydrocarbon cracking reaction zone is preferably operated in the substantial absence of added hydrogen while the presence of sweeping amounts of hydrogen gas is essential to the regeneration step in practice of the process of Longo.

D. W. DeBerry, et al., "RATES OF REACTION OF SO.sub.2 WITH METAL OXIDES," Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 49, 781 (1971), reports that cerium oxide was found to form sulfates more rapidly than most of the other oxides tested. The temperatures used, however, were below 900.degree. F. and thus below those preferred for use in catalyst regenerators in FCC units.

Many commercial zeolitic FCC catalyst contain up to 4% rare earth oxide, the rare earth being used to stabilize the zeolite and provide increased activity. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,987 to Grand. The rare earths are most often used as mixtures of La.sub.2 O.sub.3, Pr.sub.6 O.sub.11, Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3 and others. Some catalyst is produced by using a lanthanum-rich mixture of rare earth. It has been found that the mere presence of rare earth in a zeolitic cracking catalyst will not necessarily reduce SOx emissions to an appreciable extent.

In accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 3,923,092 to Gladrow, certain zeolitic catalyst compositions capable of being regenerated at a rate appreciably faster than prior art rare earth exchanged zeolitic catalyst compositions are produced by treating a previously rare earth exchanged zeolitic catalyst composition with a dilute solution containing cerium cations (or a mixture of rare earths rich in cerium). The final catalyst contain 0.5 to 4% cerium cations which are introduced to previously rare earth exchanged zeolitic catalyst particles prior to final filtering, rinsing and calcining. Cerium is described as an "oxidation promoter". There is not recognition or appreciation in the patent of the effect of the cerium impregnation of SOx stack emissions. Such impregnation of rare earth exchanged zeolitic catalyst particles is not always effective in producing modified catalysts having significant ability to bind oxides of sulfur in a FCC regenerator and release them in a FCC cracking reaction zone.

Thus, considerable amount of study and research effort has been directed to reducing oxide of sulfur emissions from various gaseous streams, including those from the stacks of the regenerators of FCC units. However, the results leave much to be desired. Many metallic compound shave been proposed as materials to pick up oxides of sulfur in FCC units (and other desulfurization applications) and a variety of supports, including particles of cracking catalysts and "inerts", have been suggested as carriers for active metallic reactants. Many of the proposed metallic reactants lose effectiveness when subjected to repeated cycling. Thus, when Group II metal oxides are impregnated on FCC catalysts or various supports, the activity of the Group II metals is rapidly reduced under the influence of the cyclic conditions. Discrete alumina particles, when combined with silica-containing catalyst particles and subjected to steam at elevated temperatures, e.g., those present in FCC unit regenerators, are of limited effectiveness in reducing SOx emissions. Incorporation of sufficient chromium on an alumina support to improve SOx sorption results in undesirably increased coke and gas production.

Commonly assigned U.S. patent applications, namely, U.S. application Ser. No. 494,602, filed May 16, 1983, and U.S. application Ser. No. 494,753, filed May 16, 1983 U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,589, relate to improved materials for reducing SOx emissions, incorporating, respectively, spinel compositions, preferably alkaline earth metal-containing spinels, and spinel compositions including at least one additional metal component. The specification of each of these patent applications is incorporated herein by reference.

Various methods have been described for the preparation of alkaline earth aluminate spinels, and particularly of magnesium aluminate spinels. According to the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,992,191, the spinel can be formed by reacting, in an aqueous medium, a water-soluble magnesium inorganic salt and a water-soluble aluminum salt in which the aluminum is present in the anion. This patent does not teach controlling pH during the time the two salts are combined.

Another process for producing magnesium aluminate spinel is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,992. This process includes adding a highly basic solution of an alkali metal aluminate to a solution of a soluble salt of magnesium with no control of pH during the addition, separating and washing the resulting precipitate; exchanging the washed precipitate with a solution of an ammonium compound to decrease the alkali metal content; followed by washing, drying, forming and calcination steps.

Further commonly assigned U.S. patent applications, namely, U.S. application Ser. No. 445,304, filed Nov. 29, 1982, U.S. application Ser. No. 445,305, filed Nov. 29, 1982, U.S. application Ser. No. 445,306, filed Nov. 29, 1982, and U.S. application Ser. No. 445,130, filed Nov. 29, 1982 U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,070, relate to novel process steps for the improved production of alkaline earth metal and aluminum-containing spinel compositions. The specification of each of these patent applications is incorporated herein by reference.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,827 teaches producing a sulfur acceptor solid containing magnesium, sodium and aluminum using a precipitating agent to cause the formation of highly insoluble magnesium and aluminum using a precipitate to cause the formation of a highly insoluble magnesium and aluminum salts which will remain stable in an alkaline solution.

Attention has been given to improved zeolite catalyst compositions of specific pore diameters prepared under conditions where a portion of the alkali metal ion component is replaced by a nitrogen base such as ammonium ion or a basic organic nitrogen compound. Rub, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,447 describes the preparation of ZSM-4 by synthesis in the presence of pyrrolidine or choline salts, rather than tetramethylammonium hydroxide or halide, to yield the same crystal structure. Improved stability is also claimed. Similarly, Plant, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,502 employs ammonium or alkyl ammonium salts in zeolite formation. Argauer, et al., U.S. Pat. No. Re. 29,857 similarly prepares ZSM-5 catalysts. Rollmann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,713 employs tetrapropyl ammonium cations and Rankel, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,285 prepares ZSM-5 catalyst with the aid of complexes such as a metal phthalocyanin, iron cyclopentadienyl, and the like.

Daniels, et al., in "CATIONIC POLYMERS AS TEMPLATES IN ZEOLITE CRYSTALLIZATION", J. American Chemical Society, Vol. 100, Pages 3097-3100, May 15, 1978, describe their experience with certain organic polymers in forcing the crystallization of large-pore mordenite under conditions which would otherwise have led to small-pore zeolites. Only a small number of such polyelectrolytes were found to be effective. Haas, et al., in "PREPARATION OF METAL OXIDE GEL SPHERES WITH HEXAMETHYLENE TETRAMINE AS AN AMMONIA DONOR", Ind. Eng. Chem. Product Research Development, Vol. 22, No. 3, Pages 481-486, 1983, describes the use of such nitrogen complexes as a source for the slow release of ammonia in the precipitation of hydrous oxide gels which yield oxide spheres having high surface area and other desirable properties.

There remains a need for improved spinel catalyst components, exhibiting good SOx removal properties, and for improved processing in their manufacture.

This invention relates to a novel process for the improved production of alkaline earth metal and aluminum-containing spinel compositions. Such spinels find particular use in diminishing the emissions of sulfur oxides from combustion zones, and more particularly in conjunction with catalytic compositions employed in hydrocarbon cracking processes.

The process of this invention further provides for the association of one or more additional components with the alkaline earth metal, aluminum-containing spinel composition.

The improved process of this invention particularly provides for the admixture of components to form a precipitate whereby controlled pH condition are maintained. A novel component of this improved production process for spinels is at least one organic compound, preferably including at least one element selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus and mixtures thereof, having inherent basicity. This improved process further provides for calcination of the resulting precipitate conducted at a temperature capable of effective spinel formation, preferably such that a suitable high surface area is achieved.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

This invention broadly relates a novel process for the production of alkaline earth metal, aluminum-containing spinel compositions comprising:

(a) combining (i) an acidic aqueous medium, preferably an aqueous solution, containing at least one alkaline earth metal component; (ii) at least one organic compound having inherent basicity; and (iii) a basic aqueous medium, preferably an aqueous solution, containing at least one aluminum component in which the aluminum is present as an anion to form a combined mass including a liquid phase and an alkaline earth metal, aluminum-containing precipitate, provided that the pH of said combined mass during said combining is maintained at about 8.0 or higher, preferably in the range of about 8.0 to about 10.5, more preferably about 8.5 to about 10 and still more preferably about 9.0 to about 9.5; and

(b) calcining said precipitate to form said alkaline earth metal, aluminum-containing spinel composition.

The basic organic compounds useful in the present invention may be first combined with the aqueous medium containing the alkaline earth metal component or with the aqueous medium containing the aluminum component or both. Alternately, this organic compound may be combined separately from either the alkaline earth metal component or the aluminum component. The organic compound may be added to the basic aqueous medium containing at least one aluminum component noted above to provide at least a portion of the basicity to this aqueous medium. In any event, such organic compound(s) is (are) present during at least a part of the time, preferably a major part of the time and more preferably substantially all of the time, during which the above-noted precipitation takes place.

The presently prepared spinel compositions may be used, for example, in the form of particles of any suitable shape and size. Such particles may be formed by conventional techniques, such as spray drying, pilling, tabletting, extrusion, bead formation (e.g., conventional oil drop method) and like. When spinel-containing particles are to be used in a fluid catalytic cracking unit, it is preferred that a major amount by weight of the spinel-containing particles have diameters in the range of about 10 microns to about 250 microns, more preferably about 20 microns to about 125 microns.

This invention further relates to the production of an alkaline earth metal and aluminum-containing spinel composition which also includes at least one additional metal component in an amount effective to promote the oxidation of SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3 at SO.sub.2 oxidation conditions. The additional metal component may be added to the alkaline earth metal, aluminum-containing precipitate or spinel composition using techniques, such as impregnation, which are conventional and well known in the art.

The spinel structure is based on a cubic close-packed array of oxide ions. Typically, the crystallo-graphic unit cell of the spinel structure contains 32 oxygen atoms. With regard to magnesium aluminate spinel, there often are eight Mg atoms and sixteen Al atoms to place in a unit cell (8MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4). Other alkaline earth metal ions, such as calcium, strontium, barium and mixtures thereof, may replace all or a part of the magnesium ions. Other trivalent metal ions, such as iron, manganese, chromium, gallium, boron, cobalt and mixtures thereof, may replace a portion of the aluminum ions.

The presently useful alkaline earth metal and aluminum containing spinels include a first metal (alkaline earth metal) and aluminum as the second metal having a valence higher than the valence of the first metal. The atomic ratio of the first metal to the second metal in any given alkaline earth metal and aluminum containing spinel need not be consistent with the classical stoichiometric formula for such spinel. In one embodiment, the atomic ratio of the alkaline earth metal to aluminum in the spinels of the present invention is preferably at least about 0.17 and more preferably at least about 0.25. It is preferred that the atomic ratio of alkaline earth metal to aluminum in the spinel be in the range of about 0.17 to about 2.5, more preferably about 0.25 to about 2.0, and still more preferably about 0.5 to about 1.5.

The preferred spinel composition of the present invention is magnesium and aluminum-containing spinel composition.

The alkaline earth metal components useful in the present invention include those which are suitable to provide the above-noted spinel compositions. It is preferred that the alkaline earth metal component or components employed be substantially soluble in the acidic aqueous medium used. Examples of suitable alkaline earth metal component include nitrates, sulfates, formates, acetates, acetylacetonates, phosphates, halides, carbonates, sulfonates, oxalates, and the like. The alkaline earth metals include beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium. The preferred alkaline earth metal components for use in the present invention are those comprising magnesium.

As noted above, the aluminum components present in the basic solution useful in the present invention are those in which the aluminum is present as an anion. Preferably, the aluminum salt is present as an aluminate salt, more preferably as an alkali metal aluminate.

Any suitable acid or combination of acids may be employed in the presently useful acidic aqueous solutions. Examples of such acids include nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and mixtures thereof, with nitric acid, sulfuric acid and mixtures thereof being preferred. Any suitable basic material or combination of such materials may be employed in the presently useful basic aqueous solutions. Examples of such basic material include alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide and mixtures thereof, with alkali metal hydroxides, and in particular sodium hydroxide, being preferred for use. The relative amounts of acids and basic materials employed are suitable to provide the desired alkaline earth metal, aluminum-containing precipitate and the pH control as noted above.

One of the novel components of the process of this invention comprises at least one organic compound having inherent basicity in an aqueous medium, e.g., aqueous solutions. Preferably, the organic portion (radical(s)) of the presently useful organic compounds is substantially hydrocarbonaceous. Preferably, such organic compounds include at least one element selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, phosphorus and mixtures thereof. Such organic compounds including nitrogen and/or phosphorus vary greatly in their structures and preferably are selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts or hydroxides, quaternary phosphonium salts or hydroxides, polyamines, organic amines (including for example, alkyl amines, alkanol amines, cyclic amines) urea, organic amides (including, for example, acetamide), chelate compounds, phthalocyanins, porphyrins, and mixtures thereof which include at least one substantially hydrocarbonaceous radical containing from 1 to about 20, more preferably 1 to about 12 and still more preferably about 2 to about 6 carbon atoms per molecule. One class of more preferred organic nitrogen-containing compounds are those selected from the group consisting of alkyl quaternary ammonium salts and hydroxides and mixtures thereof, such as tetralkyl ammonium salts or hydroxides, wherein each alkyl group is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups containing from 1 to about 12, more preferably from about 2 to about 6, carbon atoms per molecule.

The term "substantially hydrocarbonaceous radical(s)" is meant to include hydrocarbon radicals, as well as those radicals which include minor, non-interferring amounts of other elements, such as nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, halogen and the like which do not substantially interfere with the hydrocarbon nature of the radicals.

The presently useful organic compounds preferably act to facilitate achieving an improved spinel formation. These organic compounds have been found to affect one or more of nucleation, gelation, and aging of the precipitate formed in the process of the present invention.

Preferably, the present organic compounds function in the present invention substantially without forming chemical compounds with the alkaline earth metal- and aluminum-containing entities present during the precipitation or in the combined mass.

The slurry comprising the precipitate and the liquid phase, may be allowed to age (in the presence of the organic compound or compounds) for about 2 hours to as long as 120 days, preferably for about 4 to about 24 hours. The slurry may be aged at temperatures ranging from ambient to about 100.degree. C., preferably at or about ambient temperature.

The weight ratio of the organic compound (template) to elemental alkaline earth metal, e.g., magnesium, in the combined mass is preferably in the range of about 0.1 to about 35, and more preferably within the range of about 0.3 to about 20.

Spinel compositions resulting from the present invention have improved properties relative to spinels produced without the present organic compound inclusion and pH control. For example, the presently preferred spinel compositions have improved capabilities, e.g., stability, of reducing sulfur oxide atmospheric emissions from hydrocarbon catalytic cracking operations.

In certain embodiments of this invention, particulate material comprising the alkaline earth metal and aluminum-containing spinel composition also contains at least one additional metal component. These additional metal components are defined as being capable of promoting the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide at combustion conditions, e.g., the conditions present in a hydrocarbon catalytic cracking unit regenerator. Increased carbon monoxide oxidation may also be obtained by including the additional metal components. Such additional metal components are selected from the group consisting of Group IB, IIB, IVB, VIA, VIB, VIIA and VIII of the Periodic Table, the rare earth metals, vanadium, tin, antimony, and mixtures thereof, and may be incorporated into the presently useful spinel compositions by one or more embodiments of the process of this invention. The preferred additional metal component for use is selected from the group consisting of bismuth, rare earth metals, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, vanadium, tin, the platinum group metals, thorium, and mixtures thereof. A particularly preferred additional metal component is cerium.

The amount of the additional metal component or components present in the final product is often small compared to the quantity of the spinel. Preferably, the final product comprises a minor amount by weight of at least one additional metal component, preferably up to about 25% by weight (calculated as elemental metal). Of course, the amount of additional metal used will depend, for example, on the degree of sulfur dioxide oxidation desired and the effectiveness of the additional metal component to promote such oxidation. When, as is more preferred, the additional metal component is rare earth metal component (still more preferably cerium component), the preferred amount of this additional metal component is within the range of about 1 to about 25 wt. %, more preferably about 2 to about 15 wt. %, still more preferably about 3 to about 12 wt. % (calculated as the rare earth metal) of the total final product.

The additional metal component may exist in the final product at least in part as a compound such as an oxide, sulfide, halide and the like, or in the elemental state.

The precipitate, which is preferably dried, is calcined to yield the alkaline earth metal, aluminum-containing spinel composition. Drying and calcination may take place simultaneously. However, it is preferred that the drying take place at a temperature below that at which water of hydration is removed from the spinel precursor, i.e., precipitate. Thus, this drying may occur in flowing air temperatures below about 500.degree. F., preferably in the range of about 150.degree. F. to about 450.degree. F., more preferably about 230.degree. F. to about 450.degree. F. Alternatively, the precipitate can be spray dried.

The drying of the precipitate can be accomplished in various manners, for example, by spray drying, drum drying, flash drying, tunnel drying and the like. The drying temperature or temperatures is selected to remove at least a portion of the liquid phase. Drying times are not critical to the present invention and may be selected over a relatively wide range sufficient to provide the desired dried product. Drying times in the range of about 0.2 hours to about 24 hours or more may be advantageously employed.

Spray drying equipment which is conventionally used to produce catalyst particles suitable for use in fluidized bed reactors may be utilized in the practice of the present invention. For example, this equipment may involve at least one restriction or high pressure nozzle having a diameter in the range from about 0.01 in. to about 0.2 in., preferably from about 0.013 in. to about 0.15 in. The pressure upstream of this high pressure nozzle may range from about 400 psig. to about 10,000 psig., preferably from about 400 psig. to about 7,000 psig. The material to be dried is sent through the nozzle system into a space or chamber. The pressure in the space or chamber downstream from the nozzle system is lower than that immediately upstream of the nozzle and is typically in the range from about 0 psig. to about 100 psig., preferably from about 0 psig. to about 20 psig. Once through the nozzle, the material to be dried is contacted for a relatively short time, e.g., from about 0.1 seconds to about 20 seconds with a gas stream which is at a temperature of from about 200.degree. F. to about 1500.degree. F., preferably from about 200.degree. F. to about 750.degree. F. The gas stream which may be, for example, air or the flue gases from an inline burner (used to provide a gas stream having the proper temperature) or a substantially oxygen-free gas, may flow co-current, counter-current or a combination of the two relative to the direction of flow of the material to be dried. The spray drying conditions, such as temperatures, pressures and the like, may be adjusted because, for example, of varying the composition of the material to be dried to obtain optimum results. However, this optimization may be achieved through routine experimentation.

An alternative to the high pressure nozzle described above is the "two-fluid" nozzle in which the material to be dried is dispersed by a stream of gas, typically air. The two fluid nozzle has the advantage of low operating pressure, e.g., from about 0 psig. to about 60 psig. for the material to be dried and from about 10 psig. to about 100 psig. for the dispersing gas. The dispersing gas may also function as at least a portion of the drying gas stream. The various operating parameters noted above may be varied in order to achieve the correct or desired bound particle size.

In order to minimize contact between the chamber walls and wet material, the chamber downstream from the nozzle system is large in size, e.g., from about 4 to about 30 feet in diameter and from about 7 to about 30 feet long, often with an additional conical shaped portion for convenient withdrawal of the dried material. The spray drying apparatus may also include separation means, e.g., cyclone separators, in the outlet gas line to recover at least a portion of the dried material entrained in this stream.

Suitable calcination temperatures for the precipitate are in the range of about 1000.degree. F. to about 1800.degree. F. However, it has been found that improved spinel formation occurs when the calcination temperature is maintained within the range of about 1050.degree. F. to about 1600.degree. F., more preferably about 1100.degree. F. to about 1400.degree. F. and still more preferably about 1150.degree. F. to about 1350.degree. F. Calcination of the precipitate may take place in a period of time in the range of about 0.5 hours to about 24 hours or more, preferably in a period of time in the range of about 1 hour to about 10 hours. The calcination of the precipitate may occur at any suitable conditions, e.g., inert, reducing or oxidizing conditions, although oxidizing conditions are preferred.

In one embodiment of the process of this invention it has been discovered that improved spinel compositions are afforded by impregnation procedures. Such preparative procedures preferably comprise the impregnation of at least one or certain additional metal components, noted previously, on the precipitate or the spinel composition, followed by drying and, preferably, calcination.

In one preferred embodiment of this invention, calcination of the spinel composition after contacting with the additional metal component or components is effected at oxidizing conditions, e.g., in a stream of flowing air. These conditions are especially preferred when a cerium component is present in the formulation in order to prevent or minimize interaction between cerous ions and the spinel base.

A preferred alkali metal aluminate is sodium aluminate. Although the mineral acid may be nitric, hydrochloric, or sulfuric acid, to correspond to the selected alkaline earth metal salt, care must be taken to employ water-soluble salts and, accordingly, the preferred alkaline earth metal salt is magnesium nitrate and the preferred mineral acid is nitric acid.

The concerted technique of this invention affords a precipitate phase which may be directly washed with water or, optionally, first permitted to age for up to about 24 hours at ambient temperature or elevated temperatures, prior to any further processing. Separation of the precipitate phase may be accomplished by any conventional means, such as filtration.

The products prepared by the process of this invention possess unique structures and exhibit superior properties as sulfur oxide reduction materials, e.g., in fluid catalyst cracking operations, when compared with similar products prepared by conventional methods. For example, the products of this invention have suitable mechanical strength and bulk density, better attrition rate, low deactivation rate, suitable surface area and pore volume, and good fluidization characteristics.

The products prepared by the process of this invention exhibit improved SOx pickup ability and, surprisingly, different mesopore and macropore distributions when compared to catalysts prepared in the absence of an organic template. The process of this invention preferably proves spinel compositions exhibiting surface areas in the range of about 25 to about 600 m..sup.2 /g., more preferably about 40 m..sup.2 /g. to about 500 m..sup.2 /g. and still more preferably about 50 m..sup.2 /g. to about 400 m..sup.2 /g.

The embodiments described below are exemplary, without limitation, of the process of this invention.

The following spinel composition was prepared with no organic material present.

Magnesium nitrate hexahydrate (166.7 g., 0.65 mole) was dissolved in 325 ml. water. The acidity was adjusted by slowly adding 26 ml. (0.41 mole) of concentrated nitric acid.

Sodium aluminate (Nalco) (142.8 g., 0.65 mole Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 0.71 mole Na.sub.2 O) was separately dissolved in 425 ml. water.

The sodium aluminate solution was added, with stirring, to the magnesium nitrate solution over a period of 1 hour. The resulting aqueous slurry pH was monitored and was brought to a final pH of 9.5 by dropwise addition of 20% NaOH solution. After stirring for an additional hour, the slurry was permitted to age quiescently for 16 hours at ambient temperature.

The slurry was filtered, washed with water to remove sodium ion, and the washed filter cake dried at 260.degree. F. for 16 hours in a forced air oven. The dried product was ground to pass through a 60-mesh screen. The ground product was calcined by heating gradually to 1350.degree. F. over 4 hours and being held at that temperature in a flowing air stream for an additional 3 hours to produce a spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5.

Cerium nitrate (177 g.) was slurried in 1820 ml. water and slowly mixed with 70% nitric acid (350 ml.) to dissolve the cerium nitrate. The above-noted spinel-containing composition was placed in a Pyrex tray and impregnated with the cerium solution by hand mixing using rubber gloves. After impregnation was complete, the mixture was allowed to equilibrate overnight.

The impregnated product was then dried, first under infra-red lamp and finally in an oven overnight at 260.degree. F. The dried product was calcined in a fluidized state at 900.degree. F. for 3 hours, employing an air flow rate of about 83 liters/hour. The resulting impregnated spinel-containing composition was screened to produce final particles having diameters less than 100 microns. The product contained 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

The procedure of Example I was repeated except that the slurry was aged quiescently in an autoclave for 4 days at 74.degree.-80.degree. C. and under autogenous pressure to produce a cerium, spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5 and including 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

Tetrapropylammonium bromide (266.3 g., 1.00 mole) was dissolved in 600 ml. water and finally diluted with water to a volume of 1100 ml.

Magnesium nitrate and sodium aluminate solutions were prepared as in Example I.

The magnesium nitrate solution was added to the tetrapropylammonium bromide solution and the sodium aluminate solution was added to this combined solution, following the procedure of Example I.

After aging quiescently for 16 hours at ambient temperature, the slurry was filtered and washed with water until free of bromide ion. The filter cake was dried and calcined employing the procedure of Example I to produce a cerium, spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5 and including 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

The procedure of Example III was followed except that the slurry was aged quiescently in an autoclave for 4 days at 75.degree.-80.degree. C. and autogenous pressure to produce a cerium, spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5 and including 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

The procedure of Example III was followed, employing an equivalent quantity of tetraethyl ammonium bromide to produce a cerium, spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5 and including 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

The procedure of Example IV was followed, employing an equivalent quantity of tetraethyl ammonium bromide to produce a cerium, spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5 and including 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

The procedure of Example III was followed, employing an equivalent quantity of tetrabutyl ammonium bromide to produce a cerium, spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5 and including 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

The procedure of Example IV was followed, employing an equivalent quantity of tetrabutyl ammonium bromide to produce a cerium, spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5 and including 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

The procedure of Example III was followed, employing an equivalent quantity of urea to produce a cerium, spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5 and including 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

The procedure of Example IV was followed, employing an equivalent quantity of urea to produce a cerium, spinel-containing composition having a magnesium to aluminum atomic ratio of about 0.5 and including 10 wt. % cerium, calculated as elemental cerium.

Certain of the spinel-containing compositions of the preceding Examples, after dilution to 1.25-1.5 wt. % with equilibrium, commercially available fluid catalytic cracking catalyst (FCC catalyst), were tested for sulfur pick-up capabilities as follows. Each of these materials was fluidized in a gas stream, comprising (by volume) 5.9% O.sub.2, 1.5% SO.sub.2 and 92.6% N.sub.2, after heating at 1350.degree. F. in a stream of nitrogen gas. After a 15-minute treatment with the SO.sub.2 -containing gas, remaining SO.sub.2 was flushed out with nitrogen. After cooling, analyses for sulfur were conducted on the solids and on the gas stream to determine the efficiency of SOx pickup by formation of metal sulfates. Each of these materials was found to have a substantial capability to pick-up sulfur. The sulfur pick-up capabilities of several of these materials is shown in Table I.

The sulfur-containing spinel compositions from Example XI were heated to 1350.degree. F. in flowing nitrogen gas and then for 5 minutes in a stream of hydrogen. Each spinel composition was flushed with nitrogen, and, after cooling, as analyzed for sulfur content, to determine the efficiency of sulfur removal by reduction of metal sulfates. Each of these materials was found to have a substantial capability to release sulfur under the conditions of the above-noted treatment.

Spinal compositions prepared according to the preceding Examples were tested by conventional techniques for the determination of surface area and pore volume. The properties of the spinel compositions are shown in Table II.

The test data presented in Table I show that SOx pickup is consistently good with spinels prepared according to the process of this invention. The spinels prepared according to this invention are (remain) effective through a number of SOx pickup-release, i.e., have good activity stability.

The pore characteristics, shown in Table II for spinels prepared by the aging technique of this invention, indicate that these spinels have satisfactory surface areas and effective pore volumes. Both mesopore and macropore volumes differ consistently from the values observed in spinels prepared with none of the presently useful organic compounds included.

While this invention has been described with respect to various specific examples and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that it can be variously practiced within the scope of the following claims: