2792.     ---------------.  [REICHL, E. H.]  Synthesis of Hydrocarbons and Chemicals From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen.  Development Work on the Fischer-Tropsch Process.  U. S. Naval Tech. Mission in Europe Rept. 248-45, 1945, pp. 35-69; PB 22, 841; TOM Reel 200.

        Development work of Lurgi, Kaiser-Wilhelm Institute, Rheinpreussen, Ruhrchemie, Brabag, and I. G. Farbenindustrie on the Fischer-Tropsch process.  Major attention was applied to the development of the Fe catalyst.  Lurgi proposed 2 types of Fe catalysts:  One precipitated on Si and operated at low temperature, 230°, designed to give a maximum of high-boiling-point product through polymerization; the second made from Lautmasse, a cheap product of the manufacture of Al from bauxite, impregnated with Cu and designed for the production of gasoline and olefins.  Both operated with gas recycle; the product distribution of each was, respectively, gasoline 20 and 71%, Kogasin 20 and 20%, soft wax 15 and 9%, hard wax 45 and -%; the respective olefin content of the gasoline was 60 and 75% and of the Kogasin 45 and 60%.  Kaiser Wilhelm Institute placed the research emphasis on the study of carbide formation in a precipitated Fe catalyst.  Rheinpreussen likewise, and also on a catalyst based on Luxmasse with 0.15-5.0% K₂CO₃ and 0.0-3.0 Cu, which operated for 3.5 yr. and still gave 85% conversion at a space velocity of 80 and 113 gm. liquid product per m.³ of gas plus 32 gm. gasol.  Ruhrchemie developed a precipitated Fe catalyst for wax production, which operated at low temperature, but an olefin producer did not get beyond laboratory stage.  Brabag also developed Fe catalyst of the precipitated carrier type with emphasis on wax and olefin production, while I. G. Farbenindustrie studied the fused and sintered Fe (WK17) catalyst of NH₃ type and the effects of the reduction temperature, space velocity, and synthesis temperature on its productive capacity.  Data of comparative tests of each of the above catalysts are presented.  Reasonably good results were obtained from all.  Attention also was paid to liquid-phase operation and 3 types of operation were tried:  (a) Oel Kreislauf, the use of a solid catalyst bed with circulation of oil over the catalyst concurrently with the gas.  It uses the fused Fe type NH₃ catalyst.  The important features are the high space velocity, 200, and resulting high production from a given catalyst volume, 7.2 ton per 10 m.³.  Olefin production is also high.  The cost of a 100,000 ton per yr. plant is given as RM 57.2 per yr. per ton, as compared to RM 243 for the gas circulation process (I. F. Farbenindustrie), or RM 290 for a regular Fischer-Tropsch plant (Lurgi) with Fe catalyst and gas recycle.  (b) Schaumfahrweise, suspension of the catalyst in the oil phase and dispersion of the catalyst with removal of the heat of reaction by circulating the slurry through an external cooler.  Production of olefins and oxygenated products is high.  (c) Static liquid phase, similar to (b), but the heat of reaction is removed by cooling tubes inserted in the liquid.  This operation was regarded as highly promising.  Some information is given concerning improvements in reactor designs, particularly the Krupp Taschenrohrofen at Wanne-Eickel, the Lurgi medium-pressure reactor, the I. G. Farbenindustrie medium-pressure reactor for the Synol plant, and the Rheinpreussen liquid-phase reactor.