1365. HASLAM, R. T., AND FORREST, H. O. Methane by Catalysis From Carbon Monoxide in Blue Water Gas. Gas Age-Record, vol. 52, 1923, pp. 615-618, 620; Chem. Abs., vol. 18, 1924, p. 321.

Return to Abstracts of Literature 1250-1499

Literature Abstracts

When the H₂ and CO of blue water gas in the approximate ratio of 1:1 interact at a temperature of 290°-340° with Ni as a catalyst the main reaction is: 2 CO+2 H₂=CH₄+CO₂+59,300 calories. Approximately 1/3 of the CO present reacts according to CO+3 H₂=CH₄+H₂O+48,900 calories. With reduced Ni as a catalyst the optimum conditions for the conversion of blue gas to CH₄ at atmospheric pressure is a time of contact of 10 sec. at a temperature 300°-330°. Under these conditions, the gas with a gross heating value of 520 B.t.u. per cu. ft. at 0° has the composition; CH₄, 47%; H₂, 5; CO₂, 44; N₂, 4. Increasing the pressure up to 35 p.s.i. has little effect on the ultimate composition of the gas except to require a slightly higher temperature for a given product. At the above temperature range, the energy lost in the conversion amounts to 20% of the total input. At this temperature there appears to be no C deposition on the catalyst. The impurities present in the cooled water gas have little effect on the vigor of the catalyst. This process has an efficiency of carburetion when producing 520 B.t.u. gas of 61.8%; this can be increased to 80% by washing out the CO₂ under pressure, thus raising the heating value to 834 B.t.u. With coke at $9.00 per ton the material cost of the process will be equal to the material cost of oil carburetion when gas oil costs $0.07 per gal.