2552. ------. [OFFICE NATIONAL INDUSTRIEL DE L’AZOTE.] [Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide From Methane.] French Patent 976,553, Mar. 20, 1951. Chem. abs., vol. 47, 1953, p. 2463.

CH₄ and air or O₂ are caused to react together to give steam and CO₂; the mixture of gases then combine in the presence of a catalyst to give CO and H₂. Unheated CH₄ (1,000 m.³ per hr.) and 520 m.³ O₂ are passed into the conical bottom of a reactive vessel of 2-in. diameter containing porcelain pieces surmounted by a layer of a heated oxidation catalyst, such as Pt gauze, on the top of which lies 1 m.³ of a Ni catalyst. The mixture of CO and H₂, 3,000 m.³ per hr., contains 0.5% CH₄.