680.    DELAUNAY, R.  [Methanol Synthesis From Wood by the Lacotte Process.]  Chim. et Ind., vol. 58, No. 4, October 1947, pp. 335-340; Chem. Abs., vol. 42, 1948, p. 1041.

     Describes first plant-scale operation of the Lacotte process for the manufacture of synthetic MeOH from wood.  the particular originality of the process, as carried out at the Decazeville plant, lies in the Lacotte gas producer, which directly and continuously produces synthesis gas of such high purity that its purification is unnecessary before use.  The catalytic synthesis of MeOH utilizes as a catalyst a mixture of the oxides Zn and Cr deposited on a carrier.  The operation takes place at a temperature of 425° and a pressure of 650 kg./cm.2  The plant processes 20 tons of wood of 25% water content/day and produces 6,000 l. of MeOH of 99.9% purity.  Each l. of MeOH requires 2.7 m.3 of synthesis gas, 3.3 kg. of wood of 20-25% moisture, 0.8 m.3 of 98% O2, 2.8 kw.-hr. of electricity, and 0.7 kg. of steam.  1 ton of dry wood gives 3 hl. of MeOH.

     DELION, R.  See abs. 1604.

     DELLE, V. A.  See abs. 2431.