1821.  ------. [KEITH, P. C.] (Hydrocarbon Research, Inc.). Synthesis of Hydrocarbons. United States Patent 2,539,434, Jan. 30, 1951; appl. filed Feb 25, 1947, Serial No. 730,794; 8 claims (Cl. 260-449.6). Chem. Abs., vol. 45, 1951, p. 4023.

Synthesis gas, immediately after generation, temperature about 1,800º F., is quenched with a suitable proportion of a largely volatile hydrocarbon product so that its temperature is reduced to any desired level, depending upon the specific hydrocarbon and the relative quantity added. The hydrocarbons used in the quenching may crack under the quenching conditions. Thus the cracking or other endothermic reaction may not only use the heat content of the hot synthesis gas but also may supply products such as olefins to the synthesis reactor. A cracking catalyst may be used. If partial cooling without material chemical change in the hydrocarbon is desired, the temperature is rapidly dropped to below the conversion range. In this case the hydrocarbon is of cyclic character, aromatic or naphthenic. Such a hydrocarbon tends to suppress the formation of gaseous hydrocarbons and promote more valuable liquid hydrocarbons. In an example using appreciable cyclic hydrocarbons as quenching medium the synthesis reaction is promoted in the direction of C₃ and higher hydrocarbons. Of all the CO consumed, 85% produces C₃ and higher hydrocarbons, 10% C₁-C₂ hydrocarbons, and 5% CO_2. 7 United States patents cited.