PATENT

3445. ----- [SPILLANE, P. X.]  (Williams, K., Ping, P., and Lawrie, R. A.).  Electrosynthesis of Carbon-Hydrogen Compounds.  United States Patent 2,349,915, May 30, 1944; appl. filed Apr. 22, 1940, Serial No. 331,067, in Australia, Apr. 29, 1939; 5 claims (Cl. 204-168).  Chem. Abs., vol. 39, 1945, p. 1360.

Mixture of H₂ and CO is passed through an alternating electrical field of which the potential difference is maintained at 60,00-100,000 v. and having a frequency synchronized to the molecular oscillation of H₂ and CO, for example, 6.0 x 10⁶ –37 x 10⁶ cycles per sec.  The catalysts used are prepared by precipitation of the respective hydroxide from mixed nitrate solutions with a boiling solution of NaOH, and include, for example, ZnCrO₄ reduced CuO, ZnO, BeO, Cr₂O₃, or their mixture, with ratios of Be:Cu 2-5:100:3-10.  They may be used with activated charcoal.  The working temperature of the catalyst chambers is 250°-450° and 450°-600° and the pressure is varied in accordance to the desired final product, for example, in MeOH synthesis the pressure is about 200 atm. for synthesis of light hydrocarbons (up to octane) approximately 18 atm. and for hydroxyl derivatives up to 150 atm.  Gives details of construction and diagram of the apparatus.