What we claim as our invention is:
1. A support for the manufacture of the vinyl acetate catalyst comprising a mixture of substantially inert microspheroidal particles having a pore volume of between 0.2 to 0.7 ccg, a surface area of between 50 to 200 m2g and at least 50% of said particles are less than 105 microns.
2. The support of claim 1 wherein the pore volume is between 0.3 and 0.65 ccg, the surface area is between 50 to 150 m2g and at least 75% of the particles are below 105 microns.
3. The support of claim 2 wherein the substantially inert microspheroidal particles are selected from the group consisting of silica, zirconia, alumina, titania and mixtures thereof.
4. The support of claim 3 wherein the substantially inert microspheroidal particles are selected to be silica.
5. A process for the manufacture of a substantially inert support for a fluid bed vinyl acetate catalyst comprising mixing less than 100% to 20 wt % of an aqueous sol comprising substantially inert microspheroidal particles with greater than 0% to 80 wt % of solid substantially inert particulate material to form an aqueous mixture, spray drying said aqueous mixture, and calcining said particles to form said substantially inert support.
6. The process of claim 5 wherein said substantially inert particles in the aqueous sol are selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, titania and zirconia.
7. The support made by the process of claim 5.
8. The support made by the process of claim 6 wherein the substantially inert particles are silica.
9. A process of manufacturing a fluid bed vinyl acetate catalyst characterized by the following formula comprising Pd-M-A where M equals barium, cadmium, gold, lanthanum, niobium, cerium, zinc, lead, calcium, strontium, antimony, or mixtures thereof; and A equals at least one alkali metal comprising impregnating the support of claim 1 with a solution comprising a metal salt of palladium, M, and at least one alkali metal and drying the impregnated support.
10. The process of claim 9 comprising impregnating the support of claim 2.
11. The process of claim 9 comprising impregnating the support of claim 3.
12. The process of claim 9 comprising impregnating the support of claim 4.
13. The process of claim 9 comprising impregnating the support of claim 7.
14. The process of claim 9 comprising impregnating the support of claim 8.
15. The process of claim 9 wherein the support is impregnated with an aqueous solution substantially free of organic solvent comprising a metal salt of Pd, M and at least one alkali metal.
16. The process of claim 10 wherein the support is impregnated with an aqueous solution substantially free of organic solvent comprising a metal salt of Pd, M and at least one alkali metal.
17. The process of claim 11 wherein the support is impregnated with an aqueous solution substantially free of organic solvent comprising a metal salt of Pd, M and at least one alkali metal.
18. The process of claim 12 wherein the support is impregnated with an aqueous solution substantially free of organic solvent comprising a metal salt of Pd, M and at least one alkali metal.
19. The process of claim 13 wherein the support is impregnated with an aqueous solution substantially free of organic solvent comprising a metal salt of Pd, M and at least one alkali metal.
20. The process of claim 14 wherein the support is impregnated with an aqueous solution substantially free of organic solvent comprising a metal salt of Pd, M and at least one alkali metal.
21. A process for the manufacture of v inyl acetate comprising contacting the catalyst produced by the process of claim 9 in a fluid bed reactor with a gaseous mixture of acetic acid, ethylene, and an oxygen containing gas to produce vinyl acetate and recovering the vinyl acetate from the fluid bed reactor.
22. The process of claim 21 performed at a reaction temperature of 100 to 250 C.
23. The process of claim 22 wherein the reaction temperature is between about 135 to 190 C.
24. The process of claim 21 performed at a reaction pressure of 50 to 200 psig.
25. The process of claim 24 wherein the reaction pressure is between about 75 to 150 psig.
26. A process for the manufacture of vinyl acetate comprising contacting the catalyst produced by the process of claim 15 in a fluid bed reactor with a gaseous mixture of acetic acid, ethylene, and an oxygen containing gas to produce vinyl acetate and recovering the vinyl acetate from the fluid bed reactor.
27. The process of claim 26 performed at a reaction temperature of 100 to 250 C.
28. The process of claim 27 wherein the reaction temperature is between about 135 to 190 C.
29. The process of claim 26 performed at a reaction pressure of 50 to 200 psig.
30. The process of claim 29 wherein the reaction pressure is between about 75 to 150 psig.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for supporting and moving a toilet between a position where it is accessible for use to a person of restricted mobility and a remote storage position when not in use, said apparatus comprising
a first platform which rests on a floor and is operable to support a chair above the floor, said first platform having a guide extending laterally along an edge,
a second platform having a member that cooperates with said guide, said second platform being supported so that it is capable of limited, lateral, translational movement relative to said first platform, and
an unplumbed toilet operable to collect waste material for later removal, said toilet being mounted and supported on said second platform,
whereby a person of restricted mobility can occupy a chair supported on said first platform so that it is facing said second platform, and can slide said second platform, laterally, relative to said first platform so that the toilet on said second platform is moved between a use position in front of the chair in which it can be mounted and used by the person, and a storage position where it is laterally removed from being in front of the chair and the person, without the person having to walk.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide is effective to prevent rotation between said first and second platforms.
3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which additionally includes rollers on the underside of said second platform to facilitate its movement.
4. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a subfloor positioned between said second platform and the floor of a room in which the system is being used.
5. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 which further comprises at least one stop operable to prevent relative movement between said first and second platforms beyond the use position, in one lateral direction.
6. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a hand rail connected to said second platform and wherein said hand rail comprises a handle that is supported above said toilet.
7. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said toilet comprises a seat and an unattached lid with a positioning ring which is operable to engage said seat and locate said lid relative to said seat.
8. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 wherein said platforms each have upper surfaces which are supported at the same height so that they are even.
9. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 which further comprises at least one stop operable to prevent relative movement between said first and second platforms beyond the storage position, in one lateral direction.
10. The apparatus claimed in claim 5 which further comprises a second stop operable to prevent relative movement between said first and second platforms beyond the storage position, in one lateral direction.
11. The apparatus claimed in claim 1 which further comprises a chair supported on said first platform.
12. The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said chair is secured to and supported on said first platform, facing said second platform.
13. The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said platforms each have upper surfaces which are supported at the same height so that they are even.
14. The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said toilet comprises a seat and an unattached lid with a positioning ring which is operable to engage said seat and locate said lid relative to said seat.
15. The apparatus claimed in claim 14 wherein said chair comprises a seat with an upper surface and wherein said toilet seat is lower than said upper surface of said seat of said chair.
16. The apparatus claimed in claim 14 wherein said platforms each have upper surfaces which are supported at the same height so that they are even.
17. The apparatus claimed in claim 15 wherein said platforms each have upper surfaces which are supported at the same height so that they are even.