3153.     SEELIG, H. S., AND MARSCHNER, R. F.  Production of Synthesis Gas by Catalytic Decomposition of Methanol.  Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 40, No. 4, 1948, pp. 583-586; Chem. Abs., vol. 42, 1948, p. 4328.

        Moderate amounts of a synthesis gas (CO:H₂=1:2) has been obtained by decomposing MeOH over a Filtros-supported catalyst of Cu and Ni oxides, U. S. Patent 2,010,427.  The decomposition temperature is 350°-400° and 100-200 vol. of MeOH vapor pass over 1 vol. of catalyst per hr.  The life of the catalyst is about 200 hr. and can be regenerated several times by periodically burning off the deposited C.  The only byproducts of the operation are traces of CO₂, gaseous hydrocarbons, and C.  A service unit to produce 250-300 cu. ft. per hr. of synthesis gas and its operation is described.  Diagrams included.