804.    EIDUS, Y. T., EPIFANSKII, P. F., PETROVA, L. V., ELAGINA, N. V., AND ALTSHULLER, S. B.  [The Activating Effect of Oxides of Some Metals on the Iron-Copper Contacts Used for Synthesis of Gasoline From Water Gas.]  Bull. Acad. Sci. U.R.S.S., Classe Sci. Chim., 1943, pp. 145-151; U.O.P. Co. Lib. Bull., No. 48, Nov. 29, 1944; U.O.P. Co. Survey Foreign Petroleum Literature Transl. 441; Chem. Abs., vol. 38, 1944, p. 4117.

     Investigation of the activating effect of certain metal oxides on the Fe-Cu catalyst under the conditions previously reported in studies of Co and Ni catalysts.  The ratio of C to H₂ was 1:1.  All catalysts tested contained 100 parts Fe, 25 of Cu, 2 of K₂CO₃, and 125 of kieselguhr, plus promoters consisting of oxides of Mn, Mg, Al, and Th used in amount of 2% on the Fe.  A catalytic glass tube of 10 mm. diameter containing a layer of catalyst 40 cm. long was used.  The experiments were continued from 8-12 hr. at temperatures of 240°-260° in the case of Fe, about 50° lower (180°-210°) with Co or Ni.  The latter require a preliminary high-temperature (250°) reduction with H₂ whereas the Fe-Cu catalysts do not.  The experimental data show that the activity of the catalyst is affected not only by the method of preparation but by the nature of the metal oxide promoter.  The most active catalysts were those precipitated with K and promoted with ThO₂ and MnO.  A yield of 79-80 ml. liquid and solid per m.³ initial gas was obtained in presence of a potash-precipitated catalyst promoted with Mn.  This was the highest yield obtained.  The catalyst promoted with MgO was an exception to the rule in that Na was a more favorable precipitant than K.  Another exception was the catalyst promoted with MnO, which was more active when produced by thermal decomposition than by precipitation with Na.  Addition of 2 oxides did not raise the activity.  The literature reports that Al₂O₃ and ThO₂ inactivate precipitated Fe-Cu catalysts were not confirmed.  On the contrary, Al₂O₃ is able to activate Fe-Cu-Mn catalysts if it is added after precipitation of these catalysts.  Fe-Cu catalysts are characterized by low stability.  The cause may be connected with wax formation.  A similar connection was observed for some Co and Ni catalysts.