460.    CHAKRAVARTY, K. M., AND GHOSH, J. C. Catalytic Formation of Methane From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen.  I.  Quart. Jour. Indian Chem. Soc., vol. 2, 1925, pp. 150-156; Chem. Abs., vol. 20, 1926, pp. 860-861.

                   Sugar charcoal-Ni catalyst for the reaction CO+3 H₂→CH₄+H₂O retained its activity undiminished for months when the ratio H₂:CO was 3:1.  The critical space velocity (cm.³ gas mixture per cc. catalyst per minute) below which CO disappeared was fairly great (1.3 at 300°, 1.7 at 335°, 3.6 at 358°, >4.3 at 400°).  This catalyst entirely suppressed the reaction 2 CO→C+CO₂ and prevented deposition of C on the Ni surface.  CeO₂ acted as a promoter for this catalyst increasing the critical space velocity at 355° from 3.5 to 4.4.  Some CO₂ about 9 volume % of exit gas, was produced, owing mainly to the reaction 2 CO+2 H₂→CO₂+CH₄ and partly to the reaction C+2 H₂O→CO₂+2 H₂.