898. ------. [GUNNESS, R. C.] (Standard Oil Co.). Hydrocarbon Synthesis. United States Patent 2,533,666. Dec. 12, 1950; appl. Filed Dec. 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,412; 8 claims (Cl. 260-449.6).

Patent Abstracts

898. ------. [GUNNESS, R. C.] (Standard Oil Co.). Hydrocarbon Synthesis. United States Patent 2,533,666. Dec. 12, 1950; appl. Filed Dec. 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,412; 8 claims (Cl. 260-449.6).

Natural gas is first freed from H₂S and organic S compounds by scrubbing with a solvent such as monoethanolamine or triethanolamine. If necessary, the scrubbing is followed by another scrubbing with a strong caustic solution. The desulforized gas is then mixed with such proportions of CO₂, steam and/or O₂ as to give a gas mixture of atomic ration H : C : O= 4 : 1 : 1 for Co catalyst and 4 : 1 : 1-2 :1 :1 for Fe catalyst. The gas mixture is contacted with a reforming catalyst, such as a mixture of oxides of Ni, Fe, and Mn in proportion 1 : 1 : 0.5. Synthesis gas H₂ : CO= 2 : 1-1 : 1 results. The synthesis reactor is a vertical tower that contains no heat exchange surfaces but that may be bounded by heat exchange surfaces. Catalyst is suspended by upflowing synthesis gas. Temperature is controlled by cooling either catalyst or incoming gases or both in a zone outside the synthesis zone. Complete separation of catalyst from reaction products takes place in a settling zone above the reactor. The catalyst is stripped with hot gas before it is cooled and recycled to the synthesis zone. 9 United States patents cited.