304.    BOOTH, N., WILKINS, E. T., JOLLEY, L. J., AND TERBOTH, J. A.  Catalytic Synthesis of Methane – Experimental Work of the Fuel Research Station.  Gas Research Board, Copyright Pub. 21/11, 1948, 44 pp.; Chem. Abs., vol. 43, 1949, p. 3169.

                 Ni catalysts supported on kieselguhr and promoted with ThO₂ and MgO have been used with water gas-H₂ mixtures of varied compositions.  In a laboratory-scale apparatus with a throughput of 1 cu. ft. of gas per hr. at atmospheric pressure, the catalysts enabled the conversion of over 99% of the CO in the process gas to be maintained for long periods with space velocities of 3,700 volumes of gas per volume catalyst space per hr. and at reaction temps. of 250°-350°.  The performance of the catalysts was limited by a slow loss of activity, owing to poisoning by S compounds in the process gas and to deposition of C on the catalyst.  The effect of the S compounds can be minimized by use of process gases containing less than 0.004 grain S/100 cu. ft.  The deposition of C on the catalyst can be controlled by suitable conditions in the preparation of the catalyst, by the choice of suitable promoters and supports, by the use of 3H₂:1CO ration in the process gas, by additions of moderate proportions of water vapor to the process gas, and by effective removal of the exothermic heat of reaction so that high temperature in the catalyst bed are avoided.  Little, if any, advantage appeared to accrue from the use of 50 atm. pressure.  Results in a unit processing 200 cu. ft. of gas per hr. were in substantial agreement with those in the laboratory unit.  The best performance of the catalysts was equivalent to about 2,200 ton CH₄ per ton of catalyst used in experiments in which the catalyst was extended as a thin layer.