1185.    GHOSH, J. C., AND SASTRY, S. L.  Chromium Oxide as Promoter in Catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis.  Nature, vol. 156, 1945, p. 506; Fuel Abs., No. 5107, November 1945; Chem. Abs., vol. 40, 1946, p. 1083.

        Economics of synthesis of hydrocarbons by the Fischer-Tropsch process may be improved by using (1) cheaper catalytic material, (2) water gas as such in place of enriched synthesis gas, and (3) medium pressures instead of atmospheric pressures.  A cheap Fe-Cu catalyst prepared by Ghosh and Sen gave 86 gm. of hydrocarbons/m.³ of gas and has since been developed by Japanese investigators.  The fact that Cr₂O₃ possesses very high adsorption for H at 200° has been taken advantage of in preparing a catalyst (Co 34%, Cu 4, ThO₂ 2.3, Ce₂O₃ 0.24, Cr₂O₃ 4.6, remainder kieselguhr) which has been found to be remarkably steady, and yields, with water gas at a pressure of 5 atm. and 205°, 160 gm. of liquid hydrocarbons/m³ with a space velocity of 600 cc./hr./cc. of catalyst.