91. ------. [BADISCHE ANILIN- UND SODA-FABRIK] Methanol. British Patent 229,714. Mar. 26, 1925; appl. filed Aug. 23, 1923. Chem. Zentralb., 1926, I, p. 2508; Chem. Abs., vol. 19, 1925, p. 3093.

MeOH together with other oxygenated organic compounds is prepared by passing mixtures of CO or CO₂ (or both) with H₂ at increased temperature and pressure over a catalyst containing metal oxides or compounds that are not reduced by the reaction gases at temperatures up to 550° under pressure. Ni, Fe, and Co must be excluded from the catalytic material. Among the catalysts that it is stated may be employed are: Oxides, hydroxides or carbonates of the alkali, alkaline earth or “earth” and “rare earth” metals, such as Al, Be, Zr, Th, or Ce; mixtures pr compounds of MgO or Al₂O₃ with oxides of Pb, Bi, Tl, Zn, Cd, Cu, Sn, Sb, Si, B, and Ti: “potash-lime” or a mixture of Pb chromate with Al₂O₃ or Mg chromate, a mixture of Pb chromate with Al₂O₃ together with a little KOH; MgO or ZnO mixed with KOH or RbOH or carbonates of K or Rb: the product obtained by igniting in the air or an inert gas a mixture of Cu oxide and powdered Al: mixtures of K, Cs, or Rb compounds with 1 or more of the oxides of U, Al, Cr, Mn or of rare earth metals such as Ce, La, Th, Zr, or Yt; mixtures or compounds of ZnO with oxides of Al, Ba, rare earth metals, Cr, Mg, Mn, Ta, Ti, W, or V: Sb oxide mixed with BeO: W threads containing Th: metallic Mo or Tl containing Al₂O₃: the product obtained by melting K₂Cr₂O₇ and adding ZnO or an oxide of Mn, Tl, Ce, U, Th, or Zr and breaking up the cooled mass, with or without subsequent leaching or reduction. The H₂ should exceed in volume the oxides of C employed: the pressure should preferably be higher than 50 atm. and temperatures of 300°-600° are used. The velocity of flow of the gases may vary between 5 and 200 m.³ (calculated on atmospheric pressure) per hr. for each kg. of contact mass.

See abs. 2667, 2668, 2669, 2670.