131. --------------. [Synthesis of Methane From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen by Nickel.] Ber. deut. chem. Gesell., vol. 61B, 1928, pp. 2465-2469; Chem. Abs., vol. 23, 1929, p. 1106.

131. --------------. [BAHR, H. A., AND BAHR, T.] [Synthesis of Methane From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen by Nickel.] Ber. deut. chem. Gesell., vol. 61B, 1928, pp. 2465-2469; Chem. Abs., vol. 23, 1929, p. 1106.

Mixture of CO-H₂ in a ratio of 1:3 is passed over Ni₃C catalyst at 250°. This catalyst is much less sensitive than Sabatier’s Ni catalyst for the same reaction. The Ni₃C catalyst is pyrophoric and, therefore, must be handled in an atmosphere of inert gas as N₂. The reactions occurring are: 2CO+2H₂=CH₄+CO₂; CO+3H₂=CH₄+H₂O; Ni₃C+2H₂=CH₄+Ni₃; and 2CO=C+CO₂. After a short period of operation the initial catalyst Ni₃C is reduced to Ni but again reacts to give Ni₃C. The main reactions are (1) Ni₃+CO=Ni₃C+O (2) Ni₃C+2H₂=CH₄+Ni₃.