2193. ------. [MCGRATH, H. G.] (M. W. Kellogg Co.). Synthesis of Organic Compounds. United States Patent 2,542,422, Feb. 20, 1951; appl. filed Oct. 31, 1947, Serial No. 783,382, in Great Britain July 25, 1947; 19 claims (Cl. 260-449.6). Chem. Abs., vol. 45, 1951, p. 5391.

In a continuous process for the hydrogenation of CO in the presence of a freshly reduced, finely divided, fluidized Fe catalyst, the latter is pretreated by contacting with synthesis gas whose H₂:CO mol. ratio is between about 1:1 and 1:4 at a pressure between 15 and 85 p. s. i. and at a temperature of above 450° F. The gas is passed through the freshly reduced catalyst at a sufficient velocity to maintain the catalyst in a fluidized condition, while the pressure is gradually raised to above 100 p. s. i. g. during contact with at least about 200 standard ft.³ of synthesis gas per lb. of Fe calculated as the elementary material. During the initial contact the pressure does not exceed 100 p. s. i. g., and the temperature is established at about 600° F. Somewhat higher figures are used when the catalyst contains an alkali as a promoter. 2 United States patents and 1 literature ref. cited.

------. See abs. 287, 288, 291, 2839, 2840.