350.    BRIDGEWATER, R. M.  British Research on Petroleum Substitutes.  VI.  Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis.  Petroleum (London), vol. 8, 1945, pp. 109-111; Jour. Inst. Petrol., vol. 31, 1945, p. 320 A.

                  Although 7 million gal. of MeOH were produced in Britain in 1 yr. before the war by the interaction of CO and H₂ and about 600,000 tons of oil/yr. by Fischer-Tropsch process in Germany by 9 plants, little experimental work appears to have been carried out in Britain.  British work concerned the development of robust catalysts and techniques for large-scale operation.  Synthetic Oils, Ltd., worked on a process yielding a product rich in olefins, using specially prepared catalysts.  A plant was built to process about 200,000 cu. ft. of gas/day, yielding 136-180 gal/day, and said to substantiate the results obtained in the pilot plant using the blue water gas.  With Co and Th carbonates supported on kieselguhr, the Fuel Research Station produced lubricating oils from blue water gas and H₂ in a small plant.  Little has been reported on the quality of motor spirit or Diesel oils produced, but a fraction boiling 210°-300° C. has a cetene number of 93.  The 7-10% wax contained in liquid products from Fischer-Tropsch process can be treated to yield marketable commodities.  Studies have been made of the mechanism of the process, it being concluded that Co carbide is first formed.