Raney copper

Abstract

Raney copper which is doped with at least one metal from the group comprising iron and/or noble metals is used as a catalyst in the dehydrogenation of alcohols.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Raney copper which is doped with at least one metal from the group comprising iron and/or noble metals.  
     
     
         2 . A process for the production of the Raney copper according to  claim 1 , wherein a copper/aluminium alloy is activated by means of an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, the catalyst is washed, suspended in water, an iron salt or noble metal salt solution is added to this suspension, the pH value of the solution is adjusted to a value from 4 to 11, the catalyst is separated from the solution and washed.  
     
     
         3 . A process for the production of the Raney copper according to  claim 1 , wherein the doping metal is alloyed together with copper and aluminium, and is activated by means of aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and the catalyst is washed.  
     
     
         4 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols, wherein a Raney copper according to  claim 1  is used as catalyst.  
     
     
         5 . A Raney-copper catalyst according to  claim 2  where the doping elements are Re, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Rh, Ir, Ru, Fe and/or mixtures of them.  
     
     
         6 . A Raney-copper catalyst according to  claim 3  where the doping elements are Re, Pd, Pt, Ag, Au, Rh, Ir, Ru, Fe and/or mixtures of them.  
     
     
         7 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 2  is used.  
     
     
         8 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 3  is used.  
     
     
         9 . A Raney-Copper catalyst wherein the initial alloy contains more than 50% Cu so that the finished catalyst contains more residual Al than normally found under the same activation conditions.  
     
     
         10 . A Raney-Copper catalyst doped as described in  claim 1  wherein the initial alloy contains more than 50% Cu so that the finished catalyst contains more residual Al than normally found under the same activation conditions.  
     
     
         11 . A Raney-Copper catalyst doped as described in  claim 2  where the initial alloy contains more than 50% Cu so that the finished catalyst contains more residual Al than normally found under the same activation conditions.  
     
     
         12 . A Raney-Copper catalyst doped as described in  claim 3  where the initial alloy contains more than 50% Cu so that the finished catalyst contains more residual Al than normally found under the same activation conditions.  
     
     
         13 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 9  is used.  
     
     
         14 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 10  is used.  
     
     
         15 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 11  is used.  
     
     
         16 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 12  is used.  
     
     
         17 . A Raney-Copper catalyst wherein the initial alloy is heat treated in air at temperatures higher than 500° C. before activation.  
     
     
         18 . A Raney-Copper catalyst doped according to  claim 1  wherein the initial alloy is heat treated in air at temperatures higher than 500° C. before activation.  
     
     
         19 . A Raney-Copper catalyst doped according to  claim 2  wherein the initial alloy is heat treated in air at temperatures higher than 500° C. before activation.  
     
     
         20 . A Raney-Copper catalyst doped according to  claim 3  wherein the initial alloy is heat treated in air at temperatures higher than 500° C. before activation.  
     
     
         21 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein one a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 17  is used.  
     
     
         22 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 18  is used.  
     
     
         23 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxyllic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 19  is used.  
     
     
         24 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 20  is used.  
     
     
         26 . A Raney-Copper catalyst where the initial alloy has more than 50% Cu and is heat treated past 500° C. in air.  
     
     
         27 . A Raney-copper alloy doped according to one of claims  1 - 3  or  5 - 6 , wherein the initial alloy has more than 50% Cu and is heat treated past 500° C. in air  
     
     
         28 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxylic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 25  is used.  
     
     
         29 . A process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols to their corresponding carbonyls and carboxyllic acids, wherein a Raney-Copper catalyst according to  claim 26  is used.