Abstract: The helium gas separator material includes a base portion and a gas separation portion joined to the base portion. The base portion is composed of a porous ?-alumina material which has communication holes with an average diameter of 50 nm to 1,000 nm; the gas separation portion has a porous ?-alumina portion containing a Ni element and a silica membrane portion which is disposed on the inner wall of the communication holes in the porous portion; and the average diameter of pores surrounded and formed by the silica membrane portion is 0.27 nm to 0.60 nm.

Abstract: A production method for natural gas according to the invention includes a step of adiabatically compressing a raw natural gas containing helium gas, a step of separating the helium gas from the raw natural gas by passing the adiabatically-compressed raw natural gas through a separation membrane unit, a step of conveying the raw natural gas from which the helium gas has been separated to a terminal through a pipe line, and a step of pressing the helium gas separated from the raw natural gas into an underground storage formation.

Abstract: The helium gas separator material includes a base portion and a gas separation portion joined to the base portion. The base portion is composed of a porous ?-alumina material which has communication holes with an average diameter of 50 nm to 1,000 nm; the gas separation portion has a porous ?-alumina portion containing a Ni element and a silica membrane portion which is disposed on the inner wall of the communication holes in the porous portion; and the average diameter of pores surrounded and formed by the silica membrane portion is 0.27 nm to 0.60 nm.

Abstract: A production method for natural gas according to the invention includes a step of adiabatically compressing a raw natural gas containing helium gas, a step of separating the helium gas from the raw natural gas by passing the adiabatically-compressed raw natural gas through a separation membrane unit, a step of conveying the raw natural gas from which the helium gas has been separated to a terminal through a pipe line, and a step of pressing the helium gas separated from the raw natural gas into an underground storage formation.

Abstract: A composite oxide for a hydrocarbon reforming catalyst which maintains the catalytic activity at a high level over a long period of time, a process for producing the catalyst, and a process for producing syngas using the catalyst, are provided. The composite oxide for a hydrocarbon reforming catalyst is obtained by a process including preparing a mixed solution for impregnation which contains catalytic active components of Co, or Co and Ni, one or more oxidation resistance enhancing components selected from the elements of Group 3B and the elements of Group 6A of the Periodic Table, and one or more additive metal components selected from Ca and Mg; impregnating a carrier formed from a porous molded body selected from magnesia and a composite of magnesia and calcia, with the mixed solution for impregnation; drying the impregnated carrier; and calcining the dried carrier in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon-reforming catalyst comprising a composite oxide having a composition represented by the following formula (I) in which Co, Ni and M are dispersed in the composite oxide and a process for producing a synthesis gas by using the catalyst are provided. aM.bCo.cNi.dMg.eCa.fO??(I) wherein a, b, c, d, e, and f are molar fractions, a+b+c+d+e=1, 0.0001<a?0.20, 0<b?0.20, 0?c?0.20, 0.001<(b+c)?0.20, 0.60?(d+e)?0.9989, 0<d<0.9989, 0<e<0.9989, f=the number necessary for element to keep charge equilibrium with oxygen. And M is at least one element among Group 3B elements and Group 6A elements in the Periodic Table. The reforming catalyst is able to maintain a high catalytic activity over a long period in reforming hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A composite oxide for a hydrocarbon reforming catalyst which maintains the catalytic activity at a high level over a long period of time, a process for producing the catalyst, and a process for producing syngas using the catalyst, are provided. The composite oxide for a hydrocarbon reforming catalyst is obtained by a process including preparing a mixed solution for impregnation which contains catalytic active components of Co, or Co and Ni, one or more oxidation resistance enhancing components selected from the elements of Group 3B and the elements of Group 6A of the Periodic Table, and one or more additive metal components selected from Ca and Mg; impregnating a carrier formed from a porous molded body selected from magnesia and a composite of magnesia and calcia, with the mixed solution for impregnation; drying the impregnated carrier; and calcining the dried carrier in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: The hydrocarbon-reforming catalyst comprising a composite oxide having a composition represented by the following formula (I) in which Co, Ni and M are dispersed in the composite oxide and a process for producing a synthesis gas by using the catalyst are provided. aM.bCo.cNi.dMg.eCa.fO??(I) wherein a, b, c, d, e, and f are molar fractions, a+b+c+d+e=1, 0.0001<a?0.20, 0<b?0.20, 0?c?0.20, 0.001<(b+c)?0.20, 0.60?(d+e)?0.9989, 0<d<0.9989, 0<e<0.9989, f=the number necessary for element to keep charge equilibrium with oxygen. And M is at least one element among Group 3B elements and Group 6A elements in the Periodic Table. The reforming catalyst is able to maintain a high catalytic activity over a long period in reforming hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A porous preform (carrier) is soaked in an impregnating solution, which contains both of a catalytic-activity constituent, e.g. Ni and/or Co, and a carrier-forming constituent, e.g. Mg, Al, Zr, Ti and/or Ca, so as to simultaneously infiltrate the catalytic-activity and carrier-forming constituents into the porous preform. The impregnated preform is dried, calcined at a temperature of 700° C. or higher and then activated at a temperature of 500° C. or higher, whereby fine catalytic-activity particles are distributed on a surface of the porous carrier with high dispersion. Due to finely-distributed catalytic-activity particles, the surface of the catalyst is prevented from deposition of carbonaceous matters during reformation of hydrocarbon and held in an active state over a long term.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for reforming that is employed when preparing a synthetic gas by reacting hydrocarbon such as methane with a reforming agent such as water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, air or the like. The present invention further relates to a process for producing a synthetic gas employing this catalyst for reforming. By employing the catalyst for reforming that is a mixed oxide having the composition expressed by the following formula in which the M and Co are in a highly dispersed state, it is possible to suppress precipitation of carbonaceous matters (carbon) when producing the synthetic gas. aM.bCo.cMg.dCa.eO (Where, a, b, c, d, and e are molar fractions, a+b+c+d=1, 0.0001≦a≦0.10, 0.0001≦b≦0.20, 0.70≦(c+d)≦0.9998, 0<c≦0.9998, 0≦d<0.9998, e=the number of oxygen necessary to maintain an electric charge balance with metallic elements.

Abstract: A porous preform (carrier) is soaked in an impregnating solution, which contains both of a catalytic-activity constituent, e.g. Ni and/or Co, and a carrier-forming constituent, e.g. Mg, Al, Zr, Ti and/or Ca, so as to simultaneously infiltrate the catalytic-activity and carrier-forming constituents into the porous preform. The impregnated preform is dried, calcined at a temperature of 700° C. or higher and then activated at a temperature of 500° C. or higher, whereby fine catalytic-activity particles are distributed on a surface of the porous carrier with high dispersion. Due to finely-distributed catalytic-activity particles, the surface of the catalyst is prevented from deposition of carbonaceous matters during reformation of hydrocarbon and held in an active state over a long term.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for reforming that is employed when preparing a synthetic gas by reacting hydrocarbon such as methane with a reforming agent such as water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, air or the like. The present invention further relates to a process for producing a synthetic gas employing this catalyst for reforming. By employing the catalyst for reforming that is a mixed oxide having the composition expressed by the following formula in which the M and Co are in a highly dispersed state, it is possible to suppress precipitation of carbonaceous matters (carbon) when producing the synthetic gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for reforming that is employed when preparing a synthetic gas by reacting hydrocarbon such as methane with a reforming agent such as water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, air or the like. The present invention further relates to a process for producing a synthetic gas employing this catalyst for reforming. By employing the catalyst for reforming that is a mixed oxide having the composition expressed by the following formula in which the M and Co are in a highly dispersed state, it is possible to suppress precipitation of carbonaceous matters (carbon) when producing the synthetic gas. aM.bCo.cMg.dCa.eO (Where, a, b, c, d, and e are molar fractions, a+b+c+d=1, 0.0001≦a≦0.10, 0.0001≦b≦0.20, 0.70≦(c+d)≦0.9998, 0<c≦0.9998, 0≦d<0.9998, e=the number of oxygen necessary to maintain an electric charge balance with metallic elements.

Abstract: A method for preparing ethane and ethylene by reacting methane or a methane-containing natural gas in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas, i.e., by partially oxidizing, at a temperature of 500.degree. through 1000.degree. C. using shellfishes or shells as a catalyst is disclosed. The oxidation coupling reaction of methane is controlled so as to remarkably increase the conversion ratio of methane and the selectivity of C.sub.2.sup.+ compounds. The waste matter abundantly released from food industries as well as easily accessible natural resources is used as a raw material of a catalyst for the reaction. The present method is extremely useful from the viewpoint of the recycling of waste as well.