3742. -----. [TEXACO DEVELOPMENT CORP.] Synthesis Gas. British Patent 672,165, May 14, 1952. Chem. Abs., vol. 46, 1952, p. 9287.

Synthesis gas is produced from a high-boiling hydrocarbon having an initial b.p. >204° , such as a residual fuel oil, in a 2-stage process, which comprises (1) burning the oil with O₂ of high purity in a regulated amount substantially below that necessary to convert the hydrocarbon completely into CO and H₂, together with a solid carbonaceous material; and (2) separating the C and gasifying it to produce more water gas by treatment with steam and pure O₂. The reactions are preferably carried out at 1,093° -1,316° . The synthesis gas thus produced contains a greater proportion of H₂ than would be produced by complete gasification of the oil in 1 step, by reason of the steam added.