634. FARBWERKE VORM. MEISTER LUCIUS AND BRÜNING. Methane. British Patent 146,110, June 21, 1920. Chem. Abs., vol. 14, 1920, p. 3428.

Patent Abstracts

Methane is prepared catalytically by passing a mixture of CO and excess of H₂ through a series of furnaces containing heated contact material such as pumice carrying active Ni, the composition of the gases being adjusted at each passage by the addition of CO, so that the amount of the latter does not exceed about 1/5, by vol., of the H₂ present, and the gases being freed from H₂O vapor after each passage through a furnace. Thus, between each pair of furnaces there is a condenser and a connection with suitable measuring device for introducing a measured quantity of CO, the gases used containing originally a large excess of H₂. In place of H₂, purified illuminating gas may be employed, and a purified water gas may be substituted for CO. The traces of H₂ finally remaining in the gases may be removed by passage over CuO, or the CH₄ may be liquefied by cooling the gases.