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      591.  EASTMAN, D., and GAUCHER, L. P. (The Texas Co.).  Catalytic Reduction of Carbon Monoxide With Hydrogen.  United States Patent 2,594,301, Apr. 29, 1952; appl. Filed June 17, 1947, Serial No. 755,234; 2 claims (Cl. 260-449.6).  Chem. Abs., vol. 46, 1952, p. 6811.

In the catalytic synthesis of hydrocarbons, H₂ and CO together with enough H₂O vapor to suppress the formation of light parafinic hydrocarbons are continuously passed through a reaction zone in contact with the catalyst.  After an appropriate contact time gaseous reaction products are withdrawn, the liquid products condensed and separated, and the normally gaseous residue recycled in admixture with the fresh feed gas.  The recycle ratio is maintained within such a calculated range that the inclusion of H₂O vapor suppresses net formation of paraffin gases with an increased yield of liquid product.  Example:  Synthesis gas (64 vol. % H₂, 32 CO, 1.5 CH₄, 1 CO₂) is passed upward at space velocity 1,000 vol. Per vol. Per hr. through a fluidized Fe catalyst finer than 200-mesh promoted by 1% AL₂O₃ and 0.5% Na₂O.  Temperature is maintained at about 625° and pressure 200 p. s. i. g.  The effluent products are withdrawn, condensed, and separated at about 70° F. and the liquid normally gaseous products recycled to the fresh feed at the rate of about 1.5:1.  Simultaneously, dry steam is mixed with the recycle stream at a pressure of about 200 p. s. i. g. at a rate equal to about 0.5 mol. H₂O per mol. CO in the fresh feed.  After 48 hr. operation, products withdrawn show a 99.4% conversion of the CO, about 80% of the products being normally liquid hydrocarbons in the gasoline boiling range and about 8% oxygenated hydrocarbons.  The net formation of gaseous paraffins, mainly CH₄ is about 1% based on the CO converted, and that of CO₂ 9%.