509. ------. [D’OUVILLE, E. L.] (Standard Oil Co. of Indiana). Manufacture of Hydrogen-Carbon Monoxide Mixture. United States Patents 2,635,952, Apr. 21, 1953: appl. Filed July 5, 1946, Serial No. 681,479: 1 claim (Cl. 48-196). Chem. Abs., vol. 47, 1

Patent Abstracts

509. ------. [D’OUVILLE, E. L.] (Standard Oil Co. of Indiana). Manufacture of Hydrogen-Carbon Monoxide Mixture. United States Patents 2,635,952, Apr. 21, 1953: appl. Filed July 5, 1946, Serial No. 681,479: 1 claim (Cl. 48-196). Chem. Abs., vol. 47, 1953. p. 6636.

The process involves ,multiple-zone operation. The reactions for the 1^st zone are:

CO+ ½ O₂®CO₂+67960 cal.

2 H₂+O₂®2 H₂O+136,830 cal.

For the 2d zone:

2 CH₄+2 H₂O®2 CO+6 H₂-122,230 cal.

CH₄+CO₂®2 CO+2 H₂-61.016 cal.

The net reaction is:

3 CH₄+1 ½ O₂®3 CO+6 H₂+11.554 cal.

The oxidants and energy required for the conversion of CH₄ in the 2d zone are generated in the 1^st zone. CH₄ is introduced into the 2d zone and is thus contacted only with the products of the 1^st zone and not directly with O₂. The invention may be practiced with or without catalyst in various types of equipment. A Ni catalyst is preferred. Heat may be transformed in any of 3 ways. The preferred method depends on the size of operation and the purity of the product required. O₂ is introduced into the system in such a manner that it initially contacts CO and H₂ substantially free from CH₄ and CH₄ is introduced so that it initially contacts CO₂ and steam substantially free from O₂. Appreciable amounts of C or other undesirable products are not produced. 11 United States patents cited.