PATENTS

      1456.  ------.  [I. G. FARBENINDUSTRIE, A. G.]  [Process for the Catalytic Reduction of the Oxides of Carbon with Hydrogen.]  German Patent Appl. -, OZ 14,259, filed June 23, 1943.  TOM Reel 134, item II-5, 7 pp.: Meyer Transl. PC-S-II, Fischer-Tropsch. vol. 3, chap. 121, 1948. p. 48.

            In the catalytic conversion of C oxides with H₂ in the presence of catalysts containing Fe and/or Ni, preferably under elevated pressure, the gas is converted only to a slight extent, the H₂O in the mixture leaving the catalyst space is extensively removed, and the remaining gas further converted.  In the intermediate separation the H₂O is removed so that the ratio of the partial pressure of steam to the pressure of the gases under conversion is < 0.05, preferably < 0.1.  By this procedure the formation of CO₂ is greatly reduced, and a much better utilization of the synthesis gas is realized.  Example: An hourly feed of 350 m.³ of fresh synthesis gas (CO :H₂=1 : 1.4) per m.³ of catalyst is passed at 25 atm. gage over a fused Fe catalyst.  The synthesis gas is then recycled with 15 times the recycle, based on the amount of fresh feed.  The gas leaving the reactor is cooled to 20º, after separation of the reaction H₂O, and brought again to the synthesis temperature in a preheater and then returned to the reactor where the reaction occurs at 183º with a conversion of 150 m.³ of gas per hr.  A yield of 160 gm. of liquid product per m.³ of processed gas, with a total content of about 65% alcohols is obtained.  The reacted O is present in the form of H₂O to the extent of 92%, and in the form of CO₂, only 8%.