502.    CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING NEWS.  Catalysts Investigated for Synthesis of Methane.  Vol. 22, 1944, pp. 19, 1710.

                 Work on the synthesis of CH4 has been carried on both at the Gas Research Board (British) and at the Fuel Research Station (British).  A preliminary exploration has indicated that a Ni catalyst is likely to give a satisfactory rate of conversion at a high space velocity.  At the Fuel Research Station most of the work has been carried out using water gas.  With water gas of a high H2:CO ratio, the most suitable catalyst for work at a relatively low temperature has proved to be a Ni catalyst promoted by ThO2 and supported by kieselguhr.  For the removal of S from water-gas mixture, a Cu=Cr catalyst supported on active C was developed at as low a temperature as 250° C.  A hydrogenating catalyst of the MoS2 type is required to protect the poisoning of the Cu-Cr catalyst when coal gas is used.  A method for complete decomposition of thiophen was developed with a MoS2 catalyst at 300° C.