502.    CHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING NEWS.  Catalysts Investigated for Synthesis of Methane.  Vol. 22, 1944, pp. 19, 1710.

                 Work on the synthesis of CH₄ has been carried on both at the Gas Research Board (British) and at the Fuel Research Station (British).  A preliminary exploration has indicated that a Ni catalyst is likely to give a satisfactory rate of conversion at a high space velocity.  At the Fuel Research Station most of the work has been carried out using water gas.  With water gas of a high H₂:CO ratio, the most suitable catalyst for work at a relatively low temperature has proved to be a Ni catalyst promoted by ThO₂ and supported by kieselguhr.  For the removal of S from water-gas mixture, a Cu=Cr catalyst supported on active C was developed at as low a temperature as 250° C.  A hydrogenating catalyst of the MoS₂ type is required to protect the poisoning of the Cu-Cr catalyst when coal gas is used.  A method for complete decomposition of thiophen was developed with a MoS₂ catalyst at 300° C.