3858.  WALKER, S. W. (Stanolind Oil &Gas Co.). Hydrocarbon Synthesis Process and Catalyst. United States Patent 2,485,945, Oct. 25, 1949; appl. filed Aug. 26, 1947, Serial No. 770,749; 8 claims (Cl. 260-449.6). Chem. Abs., vol. 44, 1950, p. 1672.

Catalyst is prepared from a magnetic Fe oxide in laminar form produced on metallic Fe subjected to hot-milling operations. The oxide scale is ground to 100-mesh or finer and impregnated with a promoter, such as K₂CO₃ or NaNO₃. 0.5-2% based on the alkali metal oxide is effective. The oxide is reduced in H₂ at 700°-800° F. for 48-72 hr. The catalyst may be sintered by heating in H₂ for 2-12 hr. at 1,200°-1,400° F. In an example, 15 lb. of catalyst was charged to a reactor with an internal diameter of 2 in. and a height of 20 ft. A feed-gas mixture of H₂ 30, CO 10,CO₂ 17, N₂ 23, and CH₄+20 vol. % was passed through the reactor for 350 hr. The temperature was 600° F. and the pressure 200 p. s. i. The conversion of CO rose from 63% to 85%. The rate of gas input was 80cu. ft. per hr. per lb. of catalyst based on the volume of gas calculated at normal temperature and pressure. The density of the catalyst bed remained high, dropping from an initial 100 lb. per cu. ft. to 30 lb. per cu. ft. after 400 hr. The loss of catalyst was very slight. A table gives the effect of temperature change on Bloom scale catalyst when all other operating variables were held constant. 5 United States patents cited.