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.