1034.    FISCHER, F., PETERS, K., AND KOCH, H.  [Formation of Liquid Hydrocarbons From Acetylene.  II.  Catalytic Hydrogenation and Condensation of Acetylene.]  Brennstoff-Chem., vol. 10, 1929, pp. 383-385; Chem. Abs., vol. 23, 1930, p. 4918.

       C₂H₂ (10%) in water gas was passed over Fe-CU alkali catalyst prepared from the nitrates heated in O₂ at 250°.  The yield of 40-70% of the C₂H₂ consisted of benzine and oil, 2:1, the former being recovered from the activated C in which it was collected by distillation to 300° and condensation with liquid air.  The oil separated and was collected in a trap.  Since the catalyst was not easily poisoned, the water gas was not purified, pure H₂ giving identical yields but lighter colored oils.  In a ratio >10:1 of Cu:Fe, cuprene formed and caused clogging.  Adding 1 part Ni lessened this, 50-55% of the C₂H₂ producing benzine:oil=3:1, as against 40% for Cu-Fe alone; the contraction was 22% in both cases.  Fe alone gave no results below 340°, then produced 35-40% oil with C also separating.  With Co, CH₄ was formed quantitatively.  Fe:Ni, 2:1, raised the proportion of benzine in the yield to 85-90%, the total yield at 250° being 30-35% of the C₂H₂ used.  Contraction in volume, measured by flowmeters, due to the formation of C₂H₆ was 26% (90% of the C₂H₂) but fell to 12% at the end with the formation of C₂H₄ and higher unsaturated compounds.  Fe:Ni, 10:1, was used 2 months at 250° without regeneration, the contraction, however, falling from 22-23% to 14-15% after that time with still no C₂H₂ passing.  The products recovered, benzine:oil as 2:1, averaged 60% of the C₂H₂ used.  Changes in temperature and velocity had little effect on yield or quality, the higher velocities increasing the proportion of benzine to oil.  90% benzine boiled 50°-150° and consisted of 60% unsaturated compounds.  The heavy oil obtained contained no paraffin wax.  1 m.³ of coal gas passed first through an electric discharge and then over heated catalyst gave 85 gm. oil, of which 75% was light oil, losing thereby only 10% of its heating value.