531. ------. [DREYFUS, H.] Hydrocarbons. British Patent 496,292, Nov. 29, 1938. Chem. Abs., vol. 33, 1939, p. 2902.

Patent Abstracts

Hydrocarbons are made by catalytic reaction of CO and H₂ while under a pressure of at most 0.5 atm., preferably 0.25-0.1 atm. Diluent gases, for example, steam, Co₂, N₂, and hydrocarbons, if desired reaction product of CO and H₂ may be present, for example, in amounts up to 10 or more times the volume of CO. Co and Fe catalysts may be used when liquid hydrocarbons are desired and Ni for CH₄ synthesis. They may be activated with Al₂O₂, ThO₂, MgO, or ZnO and deposited on carriers. In an example, CO is passed with 2 times its volume of H₂ at 0.1 atm. over a Co-ThO₂ catalyst at 180º. The greater part of the hydrocarbons are condensed and the residual vapors mixed with fresh gases and recycled.