1068.    ---------------.  [FOSTER, A. L.] Chemical Utilization of Natural Gas Limited Only by Commercial Demand.  Oil Gas Jour., vol. 44, No. 52, 1946, pp. 83, 84, 91.

       Reactions employed to convert natural gases into more useful commercial products include alkylation, polymerization, isomerization, dehydrogenation, condensation, and synthesis.  The combination of reactions comprising the Fischer-Tropsch process is referred to as the most versatile synthetic system that has been developed for use on petroleum and natural-gas hydrocarbons.  The products range from the lightest oxidation products, such as alcohols, to the heaviest paraffin waxes with molecular weights above 2,000.  In addition a long list of aldehydes, ketones, acids, ethers, and other oxygenated products are made.  The nature of the hydrocarbons synthesized ranges from the highly paraffinic straight chain products almost entirely free of isomers or olefins into the relatively high octane number products consisting mainly of isomeric hydrocarbons in the gasoline range and heavier, higher-boiling materials of the less paraffinic types.  Some 4-6 gal. of gasoline per 1,000 cu. ft. of raw gas can be made.  For each bbl. of gasoline produced, there are required 1,360 lb. of coal, or 11,950 cu. ft. of CH₄ (modern designed plants, 10,450 cu. ft.) with a percentage fuel value conversion of 31, 42.5 (48.3), respectively.  Comparative yields of products by atmospheric and medium-pressure processes are charted.