461.    ---------------.[CHAKRAVARTY, K. M., AND GHOSH, J. C.]  Catalytic Formation of Methane From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen.  II.  Production of Fuel Gases Rich in Methane.  Quart. Jour. Indian Chem. Soc., vol. 2, 1925, pp. 157-164;  Chem. Abs., vol. 20, 1926, p. 861.

                 Use of sugar charcoal-pumice-Ni catalyst for the formation of CH₄ was studied with equimolal mixtures of H₂ and CO, with view to its use in enriching blue water gas (H₂ 49%, CO 42%).  This catalyst was not as efficient as a sugar charcoal-Ni catalyst for promoting the reaction 2 CO+2 H₂>CH₄+CO₂ (I) and was little improved by addition of CeO₂.  Pumice-V₂O₅-Ni (A) was at first very effective but rapidly lost its activity; as reaction (I) was retarded, the undesirable reaction CO+3 H₂>CH₄+H₂O (II) was favored, though with a smaller total conversion.  A sugar charcoal-pumice-V₂O₅-Ni catalyst (B) at 400°-450° retained for months the initial activity of (A).  Increasing space velocity favored reactions (II), but even with a space velocity of over 25 cc. gas per cm.³ catalyst per min. only 20% of the CH₄ was formed by reaction (II).  If sugar charcoal was replaced by coconut charcoal the catalyst deteriorated rapidly; Fe₂O₂ in place of V₂O₅ made (II) the chief reaction.  The gas obtained by use of catalyst (B) was comparable in calorific value to carbureted water gas, though much less poisonous; removal of CO₂, present in amounts as great as 33%, would give a gas of very high calorific value.