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.