PATENTS

      94.       ------.  [BADISCHE ANILIN- UND SODA-FABRIK]  Methanol.  British Patent 240,955, July 29, 1924.  Chem. Abs., vol. 20, 1926, p. 2504.

      Synthesis of MeOH by catalytic hydrogenation of CO under pressure is effected in absence of Fe from all materials and reaction apparatus used.  Temperatures of 250°-600° and pressures of 50 atm. or more are used for production of MeOH either pure or mixed with high alcohols.  A mixture of oxides of Cr and Mn may be used in a Cu-lined tube or a mixture of oxides of Cr and Zu in an Al-lined vessel.  Other suitable contact substances specified are: Cu and Cr oxides: Cd and V oxides: alloys such as those of Cr and Mn or Cu and Zn: oxides of U and Al or other oxides nonreducible under the conditions of the reaction; and mixtures of such metals as Cu, Ag, Pb, and Zu with a metal oxide or salt acting as a promoter.  A small quantity of K₂CO₃ is added to contact masses containing a difficulty reducible metallic oxide and preferably with a higher % of CO and a reduced velocity of the gas current there may be formed higher alcohols such as PrOH, BuOH, and AmOH in addition to MeOH.  Ni and Co are excluded from the catalytic materials.

            See abs. 93 and 2350.