PATENT

3434. ----- [SOCIÉTÉ NATIONALE DE RECHERCHES SUR LE TRAITEMENT DES COMBUSTIBLES.]  Preparation of a copper Catalyst for Synthesis of Methyl Alcohol and Formaldehyde From Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen.]  French Patent 606,596, Feb. 27, 1925.  British Chem. Abs., B, 1928, p. 857.

Boiling solution of Cu sulfate or nitrate, free from impurities, especially Fe, is treated with caustic alkali and the black hydrated oxide, washed free from alkali and dried in a vacuum at 50°, is mixed with 10-20% of the violet modification of metallic Cu and reduced at the ordinary pressure by H₂ or CO in a slow stream or diluted with N₂ or CH₄ not 130°-140°.  The resulting porous, fine-grained, pyrophoric catalyst converts H₂ and CO at 275°-300° and 100-200 atm. into methyl alcohol and formaldehyde.