111.    ----------------. [AUDIBERT, E., AND RAINEAU, A.] Synthesis of Methanol, Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 20, 1928, pp. 1105-1110; British Chem. Abs., 1928, B, p. 920; Chem. Abs., vol. 22, 1928, p. 4461.

                 Results of the action of various substances in catalyzing the reaction CO+2H₂=CH₃OH+27,000 gm.-cal. are given.  The following oxides were inactive:  Al₂O₃, SiO₂, Mo₂0₅, V₂O₃, W₂O₅, ThO₂, TiO, MgO, CuO, BaO, and SrO.  Ce₂O₃, UO₂, BeO, and ZrO₂ gave less than 2% of MeOH at 150 atm.  MnO, Cr₂O₃, and ZnO, prepared by precipitation from the corresponding nitrates, converted 2-17.5% of CO into MeOH, the highest conversion being for ZnO at 350°.  Metallic Cu was found to be a good catalyst if prepared at a low temperature by reduction of Cu oxides obtained by precipitation of the nitrate or by the thermal decomposition of Cu salts of organic acids.  Cu catalysts prepared from the fused oxide or from Cu oxide obtained by precipitation of solutions of the chloride or sulfate were inactive.  Ni and Fe catalysts favored the production of Co₂.  Single-component catalysts were sensitive to heat, high temperatures impairing their activity.  Mixed catalysts were more effective than single-component catalysts.  A mixture of Ce₂O₃ and Cu was very effective, and the activity reached a maximum at a Ce:Cu ratio of 30:100 with a 92% conversion of CO.  A mixture of BeO and Cu with a Be:CU ratio of 6:100 was almost as good and showed the greatest heat resistance of the whole series studied.