PATENT

3337.  SHANKLAND, R. V., SHIELDS, S. E., AND THIELE, E. W. (Standard Oil Co. of Indiana).  Refining of Synthetic Hydrocarbon Mixtures.  United States Patents 2,581,560, Jan. 8, 1952; appl. filed Nov. 8, 1947, Serial No. 784,880; 5 claims (Cl. 260-450).

Hydrocarbon mixture obtained by synthesis from CO and H₂ consists essentially of hydrocarbons having about 5-20 C atoms per molecule with 0.5-5.0% of combined O.  The mixture is characterized by a bad odor and extreme instability toward O₂ with a marked tendency toward discoloration and gum formation.  The mixture can be refined and purified by treatment with a silica-alumina catalyst of gel structure, containing about 10-25 wt % of Al₂O₃, at 625°-775° F. and with a severity factor.