Abstract: A process for the catalytic reaction of organic compounds, in which the organic compounds are contacted with a catalyst comprising an interstitial metal hydride, having a reaction surface, to produce a catalyst-organic compound mixture, energy is applied, monatomic hydrogen is produced at the reaction surface of the interstitial metal hydride, and the organic compounds are reacted with the monatomic hydrogen. Reactions accomplished by this process include petroleum hydrocracking and hydrotreating processes. The method's performance can be further enhanced using radio frequency (RF) or microwave energy.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 17, 2002
Date of Patent:
June 17, 2008
Assignee:
Carnegie Mellon University
Inventors:
David A. Purta, Marc A. Portnoff, Faiz Pourarian, Margaret A. Nasta, Jingfeng Zhang