PATENTS

3725.            SYMONDS, F. L.  (Standard Oil Co. of Indiana).  Natural-Gas Conversion to Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide.  United States Patent 2,631,094, Mar. 18, 1953; appl. filed Aug. 31, 1945, Serial No. 613,792; 8 claims (Cl. 48-196).  Chem. Abs., vol. 47, 1953, p. 5666.

Natural gas is injected into a fluidized bed of finely divided reducible metal oxide, such as Cu oxide, kept in turbulent suspension by the upflowing gas.  At a temperature of 1,500°-3,000° F., the hydrocarbons are oxidized to CO₂ and H₂O vapor, and the metal oxide is reduced.  The metal oxide is transferred to a 2d regeneration zone where it is reoxidized with air, then it is returned to the 1^st zone.  The hot gaseous products are passed from the 1^st zone to the 2d with additional natural gas.  The temperature in the 2d zone is kept at 1,200°-2,000° F. by the heat of the gaseous products.  The CO₂ is reduced, and the natural gas is decomposed to form CO:H₂.  2 foreign patents and 11 United States patents cited.

SYNDICAT D’ÉTUDE ET D’EXPLOITATION DES CARBURANTS DE SYNTHÈSE.  See abs. 606.

SYNTHETIC AMMONIA & NITRATES, LTD.  See abs. 209, 740, 741, 1115, 3357.

SYNTHETIC OILS, LTD.  See abs. 7, 2444, 2446, 2448, 2449, 2450, 2451, 2452, 2453, 2454, 2455, 2456, 2457.