997.    --------------.   [FISCHER, F., AND PETERS, K.]  [Electrical Formation of Hydrocarbons From Water Gas.]  Brennstoff-Chem., vol. 12, 1931, pp. 268-273; Ges. Abhandl. Kenntnis Kohle, vol. 11, 1934, pp. 586-597; Chem. Abs., vol. 25, 1931, p. 5853.

     Method for quantitative conversion in gas reactions, especially exothermic, which in the glow discharge produce only low concentrations of reaction products.  The apparatus consists of a discharge tube, operated with a relatively low charge, a freezing-out vessel and a Hg-vapor pump so connected as to permit recirculation of the reaction gas.  It is possible to obtain corresponding electrical discharge equivalents for the con-condensable reaction products, which are removed continually.  From CO-H₂ mixtures, various hydrocarbons are obtained in addition to CO₂ and H₂O.  With liquid air for chilling, C₂H₂ and C₂H₆ predominate.  At slightly higher freezing-out temperatures only higher hydrocarbons are recovered.  The formation of CH₄ is believed to be the intermediate reaction, while traces of HCHO and MeOH are formed in the side reactions.  When using water gas containing N₂, a 80-90% conversion of the N₂ into NH₃ and HCN takes place.