1247.    ---------------.  [GREAT BRITAIN FUEL RESEARCH BOARD.] Report of the Director for 1947.  Commun. 37, 1948, 55 pp.; British Abs., 1948, B, I, p. 370.

        Some of the subjects dealt with are:  (a) Direct hydrogenation of coal.  Difficulties in temperature control and in dissipating the heat of reaction in a static bed of coal have turned attention to the hydrogenation of fluidized coal, for which a high-pressure apparatus has been constructed.  (b) Synthesis of CH₄.  The pilot plant with temperature control by circulation of the gases has operated satisfactorily, the catalyst keeping its full activity for 3,500 hr. at 20 atm.  A life test is to be made at 1 atm.  While the surface area of the Ni-Al₂O₃ catalysts is not a measure of their activity, its retention without diminution when heated is an indication that activity will be maintained in use.  (c) Water-gas process.  (d) Removal of organic S compounds from gas.  (c) Removal of H₂S by Fe₂O₃.