492. ---------------.[CHAUX, R.] Utilization of Coal. Vol. 57, 1947, pp. 69-70. Editorial comments on the economic possibility in Britain of using coal as the raw material for production of gasoline. The opinion is expressed that such utilization cannot be economical under British conditions; rather, encouragement should be given only to the use of coal for the manufacture of those products that have an export value and at the same time consume comparatively little coal in manufacture. It appears, therefore, to be more profitable from the British viewpoint to continue to import gasoline and to use the coal supplies to build up a valuable export trade and leave the production of synthetic gasoline by the Fischer-Tropsch and hydrogenation reactions to the United States where more favorable conditions exist because of the extensive supplies of natural gas and the development of the fluid catalyst. |