1931. KOENIG, A., AND WEINIG, R. [Formation of Formaldehyde From Water Gas in the Electric Glow Discharge.] Festschrift 100-Jähr. Bestehen Tech. Hochschule zu Karisruhe, 1925, pp. 525-530; Chem. Zentralb., 1926, II, p. 2134; Chem. Abs., vol. 21, 1927, p. 3834.

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Literature Abstracts

Treatment of mixtures of CO and H₂ by the glow current leads to gaseous, liquid, and solid products of varying composition, among which H₂O, CO₂, HCO₂H, HCHO, and glycolaldehyde were identified (see abs. 2130). In attempts to determine the optimum conditions for HCHO formation, it was proved that, with a current of gas, the products are adsorbed and adhere to the walls as a result of electrophoresis. To avoid their enrichment with undesirable reaction products, the walls of the Siemens tube were continuously or periodically rinsed with water. In this way it became possible to obtain HCHO as the chief product of the action of the glow discharge on water gas, so that up to 77% of the gas treated was recovered as HCHO. The maximum yield of HCHO was obtained when the incoming gas contained 46% CO by volume. Calculated on a basis of the electric energy consumed, the yield was 2 gm. of HCHO per kw.-hr.