PATENT

3718. ----- [SWEETSER, S. B.] (Standard Oil Development Co.). Hydrogenation of Oxides of Carbon to Produce High-Boiling Alcohols and Liquid Hydrocarbons. United States Patent 2,561,244, July 17, 1951: appl. filed Oct. 25, 1947, Serial No. 782,131; 2 claims. (Cl. 260-449.6).

Normally liquid hydrocarbons and higher boiling and CO in about equal molecular proportions in the presence of a fluidized Fe catalyst promoted with 3.5 wt. % of K2O. Careful reduction with a large volume of dry H2 is necessary in the preparation of the catalyst. With such a fluidized catalyst, the pressure may vary 15-30 atm., the temperature 375°-435° F., and the space velocity 1,000-5,000 vol. of reactants per vol. of catalyst per hr. Under such reaction conditions, the conversion of CO and H2 mixture varies from about 10-50 vol. % to maintain high selectivity to alcohols, mainly C10-C17. After the high boiling alcohols are separated by condensation or adsorption on activated C or silica gel, the remainder of the crude product containing CO2, H2O, CO, and H2 are contacted in a 2d reaction zone with a 2d fluidized Fe catalyst at temperature 550°-700°, pressure 15-30 atm., and space velocity 500-3,000 vol. per hr. The product from this reaction contains substantial amounts of normally liquid hydrocarbons. Diagram.