3406.     TIMELL, T.  [Liquid Fuels From Synthesis Gas.]  Tek. Tid., vol. 46, 1948, pp. 813-818; Chem. Zentralb., No. 3, 2949, p. E234.

        Review of the Fischer-Tropsch process for producing hydrocarbons from CO and H₂ and of the production of synthesis gas by the method developed in the United States by the oxidation of natural gas with O₂ under pressure.  Natural gas preheated to about 650° is oxidized at 20 atm. and 1,300° according to the equation CH₄+1/2 O₂=CO+2H₂.  The CO₂ formed is washed out and a part of the residual gas is converted at 300°-400° over Fe oxide into the desired ratio of CO:H₂.  The synthesis itself is carried out at 17-35 atm. and about 300° in presence of finely pulverized Fe catalysts suspended in the synthesis gas and steam.  From 3,000,000 m.³ of natural gas there are produced daily 700 tons of gasoline (octane No. 80), 150 of light oil, and 130-160 of byproducts, such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and carboxylic acids.  The production cost per l. of liquid hydrocarbons is 5 öre, as compared with 19 by the German process.  A simplified process for synthesis from coal is under development in the United States.