PATENT

3875.  ----- [WATSON, C. W.]  (The Texas Co.).  Production of Liquid Hydrocarbons, Oxygenated Hydrocarbons and the Like.  United States Patent 2,583,164, Jan. 22, 1952; appl. filed Sept. 8, 1949 Serial No. 114,620; 21 claims (Cl. 260-449.6).

Carbonaceous material containing H₂, such as crude oil or natural gas, is converted into synthesis gas by treatment at 1,000-2,000° F. with a readily reducible oxide of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst containing a catalytic metal, such as Fe, Co, Ni, or Ru, capable of forming readily reducible oxides.  The resulting synthesis gas and the reduced metal oxide particles are subsequently contacted at a lower temperature 350°-800° F., at which the particles become catalytically effective to convert the synthesis gas into desired product fractions.  The catalyst particles are reconverted to a highly oxidic form, providing a continuous source of O₂ for gasification of carbonaceous feed material and largely or completely obviating the requirement for rectified molecular O₂ otherwise encountered in the production of pure synthesis gas.  Moreover, the hydrocarbon synthesis operates with greatly reduced production of undesired byproducts gases, such as CH₄, CO₂, and H₂O vapor, thus enabling increased yield of desired liquid product fractions.