131.    --------------. [BAHR, H. A., AND BAHR, T.] [Synthesis of Methane From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen by Nickel.]  Ber. deut. chem. Gesell., vol. 61B, 1928, pp. 2465-2469; Chem. Abs., vol. 23, 1929, p. 1106.

                  Mixture of CO-H2 in a ratio of 1:3 is passed over Ni3C catalyst at 250°.  This catalyst is much less sensitive than Sabatier’s Ni catalyst for the same reaction.  The Ni3C catalyst is pyrophoric and, therefore, must be handled in an atmosphere of inert gas as N2.  The reactions occurring are:  2CO+2H2=CH4+CO2; CO+3H2=CH4+H2O; Ni3C+2H2=CH4+Ni3; and 2CO=C+CO2.  After a short period of operation the initial catalyst Ni3C is reduced to Ni but again reacts to give Ni3C.  The main reactions are (1) Ni3+CO=Ni3C+O (2) Ni3C+2H2=CH4+Ni3.