3304.     STRICKLAND-CONSTABLE, R. F.  Synthesis of Methane From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen on Nickel Catalyst.  Study of the Mechanism of Reaction.  Gas Research Board Commun. 46; Gas World, vol. 130, 1949, pp. 629-631; Chem. Abs., vol. 43, 1949, p. 7666.

        It has been shown that a catalyst known as J14 made from a mixture of 3 parts hydrated Al(NO₃)₃ and 1 part hydrated Ni(NO₃)₂ on china clay is much better than a pure Ni catalyst for the synthesis of CH₄.  In either case, the catalyst is precipitated by Na₂CO₃ and reduced in H₂.  Reduction starts at 350° and is completed at 450°.  If, after such a treatment, a synthesis reaction is carried out at 250° with an H₂:CO ratio of 3:1, it is found that equal volumes of H₂O and CH₄ are not produced in accordance with the equation 3H₂+CO→CH₄+H₂O, but that no water vapor is present in the gas phase, it being retained on the Al oxide part of the catalyst and not by the Ni.  It is not known whether this retention of H₂O by the Al₂O₃ affects the synthesis reaction or not, but it is possible that this sorption of H₂O forms an integral part of the main synthesis reactions, and this may partly account for the great activity of the Al-containing catalyst.  The general features of the synthesis reaction are interpreted.