2184. MCADAMS, D. R. (Standard Oil Development Co.). Synthesis Catalyst. United States Patent 2,623,022, Dec. 23, 1952. Chem. Abs., vol. 47, 1953, p. 2402.

Promoted Fe-type catalyst is prepared in place in a catalytic reactor by (1) mixing a material containing sinterable Fe in a particle size of about 1/32-1/4 in. intimately with a minor proportion of a K compound as catalyst promoter, about 5-15% by weight of coke similar in size to the Fe, and about 3-10% by weight H₂O based on the total solids; (2) charging this mixture into the reactor and simultaneously charging thereto a parietal layer of previously sintered catalyst of relatively large particles of the same Fe-promoter composition having a size of about 0.5-4 in. in diameter, these particles being unmixed with coke and the mixture being charged loosely to prevent packing and to fill at least a substantial portion of the reactor across the entire cross section; (3) igniting the charge from the top down with a downward-flowing air stream so controlled as to maintain maximum temperatures below about 7,093°-1,371°, so that the catalyst is sintered without fusion to form a porous, integral block of high mechanical strength and high porosity throughout, the block occupying substantially all the cross-sectional area of the reactor.

------. See abs. 3319, 3320, 3443.