618.    ---------------.  [COLLIERY GUARDIAN.]   Robinson-Bindley Process.  Vol. 159, 1939, p. 203; Chem. Trade Jour., vol. 104, 1939, p. 200.

      Synthetic Oils, Ltd., has issued a report on a test run of the company plant at Bedlay for producing hydrocarbon oils from blue wafer gas.  The test substantiates the results obtained by the company’s technicians in a pilot plant at the research station at Epsom.  According to the report, the yield of oils during the trial was equivalent to 0.8501 gal. for every 1,000 cu. ft. of gas put through the plant, but a new method has just been devised that should bring the yield up to more than 1 gal. per 1,000 cu. ft. of gas throughput.  It appears from the report that several programs of treatment of crude oils can be employed, which would mean that the products could, to some extent, be varied so as to meet current market conditions.  The amounts of motor spirit, diesel, and other oils that can be produced from the crude oil are somewhat similar to those obtained from natural petroleum, but the quality of some of the oils is much better.  One program of treatment mentioned in the report shows that nearly 50% of the total crude products can be converted into motor spirit and 40% into diesel oil, and by another program, nearly 40% of motor spirit and more than 40% of very high-class kerosine can be obtained.  The motor spirit contains only 0.09% S, which is well within the Air Ministry’s requirements.  Moreover, the actual and potential gum is less than half that stipulated in the Air Ministry’s specification for aviation fuels.  The motor spirit, after certain normal and well established treatment, compares most favorably with No. 1 grade motor spirits.  The diesel oil and kerosine are said to be vastly superior to any such oils on the market.  Lubricating and transformer oils can be obtained also from the synthetic crude oil.  It was found after the trial that the activity of the catalyst had not been impaired.