PATENT

3477. ----- [STANDARD OIL CO.]  Catalytic Synthesis of Hydrocarbons.  British Patent 631,322, Nov, 1949.  Chem. Abs., vol. 44, 1950, p. 3701.

In the production of a mixture consisting predominantly of hydrocarbons with a small amount of oxygenated hydrocarbons, H₂O and CO₂ from a gaseous mixture of CO and H₂ by a Fischer-Tropsch reaction at a temperature 149°-371° and a pressure from atmospheric to 200  p. s. i. g.  in contact with a catalyst consisting of a metal from Group VIII, the product is brought into contact with a dehydrating catalyst to dehydrate certain of the oxygenated hydrocarbons, without altering substantially the structure of the hydrocarbons produced.  The dehydrated product is cooled to recover liquid hydrocarbons, which are substantially free from the dehydratable oxygenated compounds.  Specific examples of dehydrating catalysts are the oxides of Th, Al, W, and Cr.  Temperatures in the range 149°-427° and pressures in the range of atmospheric to 500 p. s. i. g. may be used in the dehydration.