3090.     SCHLESINGER, M. D., CROWELL, J. H., LEVA, M., AND STORCH, H. H.  Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis in the Slurry Phase.  Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 43, No. 6, 1951, pp. 1474-1479.

        Study has been made of the slurry process as a means of developing an improved method for synthesizing liquid hydrocarbons from coal.  A finely divided Fe catalyst suspended in oil is circulated by natural convection through a reactor in the presence of CO and H₂.  A pilot-plant operation is described, and the effect of operating conditions on the synthesis is discussed.  An increase in CO conversion with increasing temperature was noted, as was the formation of light hydrocarbons.  The effect of operating pressure on light hydrocarbon production was found to be small; an increase in pressure at constant space velocity is accompanied by increased synthesis gas conversion.  On a basis of the CO reacted, 5% appeared as C₁+C₂ hydrocarbons, 43% as heavier hydrocarbons (58% of which boiled in the gasoline range), and 42% as CO₂.  Large amounts of oxygenated compounds were obtained in the light-oil and H₂O fractions.  Potentially important advantages for the slurry process are indicated by the improved temperature control, mass transfer, and flexibility of operation.