2141.     LORMAND, C.  Industrial Production of Synthetic Methanol.  Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 17, 1925, pp. 430-432; Chem. Abs., vol. 19, 1925, p. 2027.

        This paper, based on a lecture by Patart before the Société d’encouragement poor l’industrie national, reviews the development of the process for the synthesis of MeOH by catalysis under pressure.  A small industrial plant is described, utilized primarily for studying the action of various catalysts.  The process operates within a temperature range of 300°-600° C., at a pressure between 150-200 atm., and with a gaseous mixture of H₂:CO in the ratio of 2:1.  The pressure may be increased to as much as 900 atm. without deleterious results.  A catalyst of Cu and Zn appeared to be the most efficient, although the oxides of V, Cr, and Zn gave good results as did also metallic salts such as chromates, manganates, vanadates, molybdates, and tungstates.  The cost of producing MeOH in a plant having a daily capacity of 7.5 ton is calculated at $0.05-$0.07 per l. or $0.18-$0.26 per gal.