1785.  JONES, M. C. K. (Standard Oil Development Co.). Synthesis Gas. United States Patent 2,640,034, May 26, 1953. Chem. Abs., vol. 47, 1953, p. 7198.

Mixtures of H₂ and CO containing more than about 1 mole H₂ per mole CO may be produced from solid carbonaceous materials when heat and reducing gases generated in the manufacture of blue water gas are utilized for the production of makeup H₂ by the reduction of steam. The blue water gas is generated from carbonaceous solids, the necessary heat being obtained by the combustion of carbonaceous solids in a separate heating zone operated to produce substantial amounts of CO, which is used in the reduction of steam to produce makeup H₂. In the steam reduction, the steam is preferably brought into contact with Fe or an Fe alloy, with Mn, W, or the like added to control the activity, to form H₂ and the oxide of the metal. The metal is regenerated using the CO produced in the heating zone of the water-gas generator. By using the fluidized-solids technique in both water-gas and H₂ generators, the process may be operated in a fully continuous manner.