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Literature Abstracts

 1957.    KOMAREWSKY, V. I., AND RIESZ, C. H.  Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis and the Gas Industry.  Petrol. Refiner, vol. 23, No. 11, 1944, pp. 415-422.

       Reviews of the development of the process from the beginning to the present.  A reaction mechanism is proposed, which postulates that the function of the catalyst is to provide a hydrogenating-polymerizing surface whereby CO is converted to CH₂ at the catalyst surface, and this is polymerized to hydrocarbons containing more than 1 C atom.  Poisoning of the catalyst by S is explained on the basis of this mechanism.  The process is of potential value to the gas industry, since it offers the possibility of converting off-peak gas production to valuable products.  The cost of the process must however first be lowered to make it economical.  Research should be directed toward the following objectives:  Develop more active catalysts, which will operate at shorter contact periods; produce a catalyst capable of directing the reaction toward a specific product, for example, iso-paraffins; obtain a S-resistant catalyst having a tolerance of at least 2-4 grains of S per 100 cu. ft.; develop a process that will utilize a 1:1 mixture of CO:H₂.