Selective synthesis of mercaptans and catalyst therefor

摘要

A process for producing a novel catalyst wherein an amorphous alumina gel is formed at least on the surface of an aluminum-containing material, the gel is heated to form crystalline (alpha)- or (beta)-alumina trihydrate and the trihydrate is sulfided, the product of said process, and the method of producing mercaptans from alcohols or ethers and hydrogen sulfide at elevated temperature in the presence of said novel catalyst, are disclosed herein.