3135.     ---------------.  [SCHUSTER, F.]  [Water-Gas Equilibrium and Nonpoisonous Gas.]  Gas- u. Wasserfach, vol. 80, 1937, pp. 304-307; Chem. Abs., vol. 31, 1937, p. 5133.

        New values for the water-gas equilibrium constant were calculated with the latest values and new equations for the specific heat of CO₂, CO, H₂, and H₂O.  These values for the water gas equilibrium (given from 300°-600°) are about 12% lower than those used earlier and are in agreement with the experimental results at 400°.  Experiments were made as to the effect of use on the catalyst employed.  This catalyst consisted of colloidal Fe oxide activated with KOH and formed into balls with cement.  Initially, absorption of CO₂ by the catalyst increased its temperature, although this was lowered somewhat by desorption.  The conversion of the higher Fe oxides into lower ones by the reducing gases required less heat than was supplied by the combination of CO and H₂.  When equilibrium is reached with the catalyst, heat is continually evolved owing to the exothermic nature of the reaction of CO and H₂, and this heat is enough to cover process requirements.  These laboratory observations were confirmed by observations at the Hameln plant.