2587.     ---------------.  [PATART, G.]  [New Field of Catalysis Under High Pressure.  Commercial Synthesis of Methanol.]  Chim. et ind., vol. 13, 1925, p. 179-185; Chem. Abs., vol. 19, 1925, p. 1556.

        Fuller account is given of the experiments than appeared in Compt. rend., vol. 179, 1924, pp. 1330-1332 (abs. 2585).  A small-scale plant erected in 1922 is described.  The mixture of water gas and H₂ is compressed to 500 atm., freed from oily impurities in a scrubber, and passed through the catalyst chamber.  On leaving this, the MeOH produced is condensed by water cooling and the gases are returned to the process.  The condensate is a greenish, turbid liquid, owing tot he presence of salts of Zn, Cu, and Fe, the 1^st derived from the catalyst and the last 2 from the apparatus, and amounting to 0.5 gm. in 154 cc.  The liquid after distillation yields 80% of its original volume of MeOH with traces of acids, higher alcohols, and NH₃ but no acetone or formaldehyde, the remainder being water.  Fe, Ni, and Co must be excluded as at temperatures above 300° they catalyze other reactions such as 2 CO=CO₂+C and CO+3H₂=CH₄+H₂O.  They cannot therefore, be used in the heating elements of the catalyst chamber.  No gas purification such as is necessary in the synthesis of NH₃ is required.  It is estimated that 100 l. of MeOH can be produced from 300 m.³ of water gas at a cost of 25-35 gold francs.