PATENTS

      1582.  ------.  [I. G. FARBENINDUSTRIE, A. G.]  [Synthesis Gas.]  French Patent 892,974, May 25, 1944; appl. filed Mar. 30, 1943.  Chem. Zentralb., 1945, I, p. 1093.

            Gases such as coke oven gas are burned in the presence of catalysts such as Ni or Mg, and if desired with addition of H₂O vapor.  Before the flame touches the catalyst, it is coated with metal vapor such as metals of the Fe group.  For instance, Fe carbonyl, which decomposes when a temperature of about 1,000º is reached, is used.  The gas mixture, leaving the furnace at about 600º, contains only about 0.25% of CH₄.