142. ------. [BARR, F. T.] (Standard Oil Development Co.). [Regulating the Activity of Catalysts.] French Patent 930,214, Jan. 20, 1948: appl. filed July 4, 1946: in United States, Dec. 14, 1945. Chem. Zentralb., 1949, II, p. F-57.

Reaction with finely powdered catalyst are carried out in 2 steps in such a manner that the fresh catalysts are used in the 2d step and then, gradually, as their activity declines, moved little by little to the 1^st step. The catalyst thus moves countercurrent to the reacting components and is freed from the reaction mixture between the 2 reaction steps. The flow of catalyst in the separate steps is greater, the weaker the catalyst is with the condition, however, that the amount of catalyst present in the separate reaction chambers is kept constant. The catalyst is transported by being fluidized and elevated to such an extent that at times a certain delivery pipe leading to the preceding zone. The process is applicable to the synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO and H₂. Example: A gas having a CO: H₂ ratio of 0.2:0.8 is caused to react at 190°-232° on a finely divided Co catalyst (15-60% passing through a 400-mesh sieve) under 5-10 atm. pressure and under a throughput of 200-500 cc. And a gas flow of 45 cm. per sec. The introduction of catalyst and its replacement are so regulated that a total replacement takes place in about 10-15 days. With Fe catalysts a complete replacement within 100-400 days was found necessary.