395. COLEY, J. R. (The Texas Co.). Method of Producing Ketones. United States Patent 2,516,958, Aug. 1, 1950; appl. filed May 23, 1946, Serial No. 671,685; 7 claims (Cl. 260-595). Chem. Abs., vol. 45, 1951, p. 1159.

Patent Abstracts

395. COLEY, J. R. (The Texas Co.). Method of Producing Ketones. United States Patent 2,516,958, Aug. 1, 1950; appl. filed May 23, 1946, Serial No. 671,685; 7 claims (Cl. 260-595). Chem. Abs., vol. 45, 1951, p. 1159.

CO and H2 are converted into primarily oxygenated products by using temperatures below those normally used with particular catalyst and pressures 270-450 p. s. i., preferably 375 p. s. i. With unsupported fused Fe catalyst of 95-97% Fe, 2-3% alumina, and 1% alkali metal oxide such as K oxide, temperatures are 350º-395º F. and pressure 350-375 p. s. i. Synthesis gas composition range is H₂:CO=1:1-3:1. The total effluent, including water vapor, temperature 395º is passed to a heater and the temperature raised to 660º-830º F. At this temperature the product mixture contacts Cr. Oxide catalyst, and the alcohols and acids are converted to aliphatic ketones of varying molecular weights.

RCH₂CH₂OH+RCH₂CH₂OH+RCH₂COCH₂R+CO+3H₂,

RCH₂COOH+RCH₂COOH+RCH₂COCH₂R+CO₂+H₂O.

The effluent from the ketone formation step is cooled to condense the normally liquid constituents containing a large % of H₂O. The uncondensed normally gaseous constituents H₂, CO, and CO₂ are recycled to the hydrogenation of CO. The ratio H₂:CO is about 3:1. 5 United States patents cited.