PATENTS

3871.   ------.  [WATSON, C. W.]  (The Texas Co.).  Catalytic Conversion With a Fluidized Solid Catalyst.  United States Patent 2,567,259, Sept. 11, 1951; appl. filed Mar. 7, 1946, Serial No. 652,834; 6 claims (Cl. 260-449).  Chem. Abs., vol. 46, 1952, p. 711.

Catalytic conversion of a stream of CO+H₂ into compounds of higher molecular weight by contact with a solid particle catalyst is effected by passing the reactants upwardly through a reaction zone comprising a relatively constricted, vertical tube having an hydraulic radius of not more than 1 in. and occupied by a relatively coarse dispersing fraction, consisting of solid particles of diameter 0.05-0.35 times the diameter of the tube, and a relatively fine catalytic fraction, consisting of particles of not more than 0.1-0.001 times the diameter of the particles of the dispersing fraction.  The effluent reaction products are withdrawn from the upper part of the reaction zone, and the catalyst particles are separated therefrom and reinjected into the reactant gas stream passing upwardly through the reaction zone.  Enough fine catalyst particles are suspended therein, and the linear velocity is such that the coarse dispersing particles are continuously in contact with the ractants and the fine catalyst particles in the reaction zone to maintain the catalyst in a state of uniform fluidization at high bed density throughout its vertical extent, with the reactants dispersed throughout the mass of catalyst particles.  Reaction zone pressures may range from atmospheric to 700 atm., and the temperatures from 200°-700° F.  With an Fe catalyst, the effective pressures may be 150-300 p.s.i.g. and temperatures 500°-600° F.  Space velocity of reactant gas flow may range 500-5,000 vol. gas per hr. per vol. reactor space occupied by fluidized catalyst.  The process is useful for the production of both hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds.