2262.     MICHAEL, W.  Present Status of the Synthetic Oil Experiments, Jan. 6, 1942.  Bureau of Mines Transl. T-439, Jan. 1948, 6 pp.

        Foam synthesis method has been adapted to industrial production by placing in operation a 1.5 m.³ capacity reactor provided with a foam plate, made of chamotte or quartz with sintered powdered glass with pores 0.1-0.2 mm. diameter, for the distribution of the synthesis gas.  Stirring methods had to be discontinued because of difficulties in the stuffing boxes of the mixer shaft.  The reactor apparatus consists of a vessel near the bottom with a perforated foam plate and a degasifier at the head of the reactor in which the rising foam gives up its gas, the liquid being returned by an outside line to the bottom of the reactor and recirculated under such a pressure (about 20 atm.) as to counteract the tendency of the powdered catalyst to settle.  The rate of circulation is further determined by the need of removing the heat of reaction in the liquid phase by a cooler located in the reactor jacket.  For example, with a temperature rise of the liquid of 10°, the liquid would need to circulate at a synthesis temperature of 250° at the rate of once every 3 min.  Oil is used as the intermediate cooling agent surrounding the reactor and is pumped in a circuit through the cooler.  The catalyst consists of Fe from Fe oxide obtained by burning Fe carbonyl, pasted with a solution of potassium borate, dried, reduced in H₂ at 450°, and ground in heavy oil to a particle size 1-5 μ.  The amount of catalyst is 300-400 kg. per m.³ of the liquid, the dispersion medium being the high-boiling fraction obtained in the synthesis.  The synthesis is performed under pressure, at 250°-300°, with a synthesis gas CO:H₂::55:45.  The space-time yield of products range from 0.2-0.3 kg. per l. catalyst space per day at 250° to 0.7-0.8 kg. at 300° with a conversion of 80 to even 95% of the gas by purifying the recycle gas from CO₂.  The compositions of the products in % at 250° and 300°, respectively, are as follows:  Gasol, 4-6 and 8; gasoline boiling at 200°, 30-40 and 50-55; middle oil boiling at 350°, 32-37 and 30-35; paraffin above 350°, 20-30 and 5-10; alcohols, 6 and 3; octane number of gasoline, 50 and 78; olefins in middle oil, 60 and --; gasification, 5 and 5.