1021.     --------------.  [Synthesis of Petroleum at Atmospheric Pressure From Gasification Products of Coal.]  Brennstoff-Chem., vol. 7, 1926, pp. 97-104; Nat. Petrol. News, vol. 18, No. 41, 1926, pp. 95-96, 99; No. 42, pp. 80C, 80D, 80E, 80F, 80H; Chem. Abs., vol. 20, 1926, p. 2065.

        S-free mixture of CO and H₂ (water gas) is passed over finely divided metals of the 8^th group, alone or mixed with metallic oxides, such as those of Zn and Cr. at a temperature approximately 270° and atm. pressure.  At higher temperatures, CO is reduced to CH₄, but by selecting the catalyst mixture and keeping the temperature down, only saturated higher homologs of CH₄ are formed.  These vary in molecular complexity from C₂H₆ to solid paraffin.  O appears in the reaction products almost wholly as CO₂ and H₂O.  The process can be so regulated that the molecular complexity of the paraffins formed is to some extent controlled; that is, one can produce mainly casinghead gas or benzine with higher homologs as desired.  Boiling ranges of the products are given.  The authors believe the catalytic process involves formation of a carbide rich in C as a first stage (Fe₃C₄ or Fe₂C₃), which is afterward reduced to CH₂.  This polymerizes in the presence of H₂ to form saturated paraffins.  From the reaction 3CO+3H₂=CO₂+H₂O+ 2CH₂, 190 gm. of hydrocarbons are obtainable from 1 m.³ of water gas several times over an Fe-Co contact mass.  The process may be used primarily for the manufacture of petroleum products, especially motor spirit, or as an adjunct to water-gas plants for gas enrichment.