2757. REES, H. V., AND LUDEMAN, C. G. (Texaco Development Corp.). Manufacture of Hydrocarbons and the Like. United States Patent 2,486,879, Nov. 1, 1949; appl. filed Mar. 31, 1945, Serial No. 586,004; 9 claims (Cl. 260-449.6). Chem. Abs., vol. 44, 1950, p. 1675.

Stream of gaseous hydrocarbons, mainly CH₄ is split into streams of approximately 6.29 and 93.71 mol. %. The minor stream is passed to a combustion zone at a rate of about 12.32 lb. per hr. O₂ and CO₂ recycled from a later stage of the process are supplied. Combustion forms CO₂ and H₂O at a temperature not exceeding 3,500° F. The gas mixture is passed to a reversion zone to which is supplied the major hydrocarbon stream at about 183.64 lb. per hr. Synthesis gas is formed. The synthesis gas is passed into contact with an Fe catalyst for production of products having at least 2 C atoms per molecule. CO₂ is stripped from the tail gas and recycled. Only enough CO₂ to effect quenching is returned to the combustion zone. The tail gas is divided into 2 streams, 1 of which is discharged and the other is recycled. The portion discharged keeps the accumulation of N₂ below 20 mol. % of the synthesis gas passing to the converter. The exothermic heat generated in the 1 zone balances the endothermic heat of reaction in the other zone. 2 literature refs. and 12 United States patents cited.

REICHART, J. See abs. 2633.