907.    -----------------.  [FIELDNER, A. C.]  Recent Developments in Coal Utilization.  Synthesis of Chemical Products From Gases Produced From Coal or Coke.  Bureau of Mines Minerals Yearbook, 1932-33, pp. 447-450; Chem. Abs., vol. 28, 1934, p. 284.

      Production of gasoline by passing mixtures of H₂ and CO at atmospheric pressure over Fe or Co catalysts at approximately 260° C. has not reached commercial realization, although a semicommercial-scale plant at the Mülheim Coal Research Institute has been operating experimentally during the past few years.  The earlier Co catalysts have been superseded by Ni-Mn-Al oxide on kieselguhr.  This catalyst gave yields of 100-120 cc. of liquid products per m.³ of gas during 4 weeks of continuous operation.  The yield had then decreased to 30% of the initial value.  The catalyst must be regenerated by removing the accumulated paraffin.  The maximum reaction temperature ranges from 190° at the beginning of a run to 210° C. at the end.  The principal difficulties in large-scale commercial operation of the process are to dissipate the high heat of reaction and keep the catalyst at the proper temperature; also, the gases must be purified carefully to remove S.  The solution of these problems is nearing completion.