Hydrocarbons are converted by contacting them at hydrocarbon conversion conditions with a novel attenuated superactive multimetallic catalytic composite comprising a combination of a catalytically effective amount of a pyrolyzed rhenium carbonyl component with a porous carrier material containing a uniform dispersion of a catalytically effective amount of a platinum group component, which is maintained in the elemental metallic state, and of a cadmium component. In a highly preferred embodiment, this novel catalytic composite also contains a catalytically effective amount of a halogen component. The platinum group component, pyrolyzed rhenium carbonyl component, cadmium component and optional halogen component are preferably present in the multimetallic catalytic composite in amounts, calculated on an elemental basis, corresponding to about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % platinum group metal, about 0.01 to about 5 wt. % rhenium, about 0.01 to about 5% cadmium and about 0.1 to about 3.5 wt. % halogen. A key feature associated with the preparation of the subject catalytic composite is reaction of a rhenium carbonyl complex with a porous carrier material containing a uniform dispersion of a cadmium component and of a platinum group metal maintained in the elemental state, whereby the interaction of the rhenium moiety with the platinum group moiety is maximized due to the platinophilic (i.e. platinum-seeking) propensities of the carbon monoxide ligands associated with the rhenium reagent. A specific example of the type of hydrocarbon conversion process disclosed herein is a process for the catalytic reforming of a low octane gasoline fraction wherein the gasoline fraction and a hydrogen stream are contacted with the subject superactive multimetallic catalytic composite at reforming conditions.

A novel attenuated superactive multimetallic catalytic composite especially useful for converting hydrocarbons comprises a combination of a catalytically effective amount of a pyrolyzed rhenium carbonyl component with a porous carrier material containing a uniform dispersion of catalytically effective amounts of a platinum group component, which is maintained in the elemental metallic state during the incorporation of the rhenium carbonyl component, and of a cadmium component. In a highly preferred embodiment, this novel catalytic composite also contains a catalytically effective amount of a halogen component. The platinum group component, pyrolyzed rhenium carbonyl component, cadmium component and optional halogen component are preferably present in the multimetallic catalytic composite in amounts, calculated on an elemental basis, corresponding to about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % platinum group metal, about 0.01 to about 5 wt. % rhenium, about 0.01 to about 5 wt. % cadmium and about 0.1 to about 3.5 wt. % halogen. A key feature associated with the preparation of the subject catalytic composite is reaction of a rhenium carbonyl complex with a porous carrier material containing a uniform dispersion of a cadmium component and of a platinum group metal maintained in the elemental state, whereby the interaction of the rhenium moiety with the platinum group moiety is maximized due to the platinophilic (i.e. platinum-seeking) propensities of the carbon monoxide ligands associated with the rhenium reagent.

Hydrocarbons are converted by contacting them at hydrocarbon conversion conditions with an acidic multimetallic catalytic composite comprising a combination of catalytically effective amounts of a platinum group component, a nickel component, a cadmium component, and a halogen component with a porous carrier material. The platinum group, nickel, cadmium, and halogen components are present in the multimetallic catalyst in amounts respectively, calculated on an elemental basis, corresponding to about 0.01 to about 2 wt. % platinum group metal, about 0.05 to about 5 wt. % nickel, about 0.01 to about 5 wt. % cadmium, and about 0.1 to about 3.5 wt. % halogen. Moreover, these metallic components are uniformly dispersed throughout the porous carrier material in carefully controlled oxidation states such that substantially all of the platinum group component is present therein in the elemental metallic state, substantially all of the catalytically available nickel component is present in the elemental metallic state or in a state which is reducible to the elemental metallic state under hydrocarbon conversion conditions, or in a mixture of these states, while substantially all of the cadmium component is present in an oxidation state above that of the elemental metal. A specific example of the type of hydrocarbon conversion process disclosed is a process for the catalytic reforming of a low-octane gasoline fraction wherein the gasoline fraction and a hydrogen stream are contacted with the acidic multimetallic catalyst disclosed herein at reforming conditions.

A portable or stationary apparatus incorporating a reel for storage of the swimming pool vacuum hose and a means for submerging the hose as it is unwound into the pool, assuring thereby the filling of the hose with water coincident with its being dispensed into the pool. The evacuation of air from the hose permits the immediate connection of the hose to the vacuum pump without causing the pump to lose its prime.

An improved electrocatalyst comprises a supported platinum-gallium alloy catalyst of up to 50 atomic percent gallium, preferably of 10 to 30 atomic percent gallium, balance platinum. The platinum-gallium alloy is supported, preferably on carbon powder or the like, shows greater activity for oxygen reduction and better resistance to sintering than does a comparable platinum catalyst. A fuel cell electrode especially suited for use as a phosphoric acid fuel cell cathode comprises the supported platinum-gallium alloy electrocatalyst bound to an acid resistant support member.