3168.     SHERWOOD, P. W.  Oxidation of Methane to Formaldehyde; Interrogation of Dr. Karl Schmitt of Bergwerks Gesellschaft, Hibernia A.-G., at Herne.  FIAT Final Rept. 608, June 1946, 6 pp.; PB 44,656.

        Process is described for the partial oxidation of CH₄ by ozonized O₂.  The reaction is said to take place at atmospheric pressure with an O₂:CH₄ ratio of 40:60 and at a temperature of 110°-120° C.  The catalyst is not very active <110° C, and >120° C. oxidation tends to go beyond the formaldehyde stage.  The raw materials for the process consisted of CH₄, approximately 70% from the separation of coke-oven gas, and Linde-Frankl O₂, about 98%, which was ozonized to an ozone content of 0.5-2.0 vol. %.  The preparation of the barium peroxide catalyst is also briefly described.  A drawing of Dr. Schmitt’s 2-pass ozonizer is shown.