3206.     SMITH, D. F.  Equilibrium Condition in the Formation of Hydrocarbons and Alcohols From Water Gas.  Ind. Eng. Chem., vol. 19, 1927, pp. 801-803; Chem. Abs., vol. 21, 1927, p. 2783.

        Study of equilibrium conditions in the reactions between CO and H₂ to produce CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₆H₆, MeOH, EtOH, and BuOH.  Conclusions:  (1) It is easier to form the higher paraffin hydrocarbons than the lower ones from water gas at all temperatures, and there is a much greater tendency for the O₂ to go to CO₂ than to H₂O; (2) the tendency to form aromatic and probably branched-chain and cyclic hydrocarbons is generally greater than to form straight-chain compounds; (3) the lower alcohols cannot be formed from water gas at atmospheric pressure and temperatures of 300° and above, while the higher alcohols can be formed in considerable amounts with water gas under these conditions; (4) the tendency to form all these compounds falls rather rapidly with increasing temperature; (5) maximum possible yields can be calculated from the values of K (given in a table); and (6) the acuracy of the free-energy values given should be satisfactory on the alcohols, and reasonably so on the hydrocarbons.