3915.  WIETZEL, G., AND STARKE, A. (I. G. Farbenindustrie A. G.). Unsaturated Gaseous Hydrocarbons and Hydrogen From Saturated Hydrocarbons. United States Patent 1,892,973, Jan. 3, 1933; appl. filed Apr. 9, 1927. Chem. Abs., vol. 27, 1933, p. 2,101.

Gas such as natural gas is subjected to the action of an electric arc to for C₂H₂ and other unsaturated hydrocarbons, which are separated from the gas mixture, and the residual gas is converted into a mixture substantially composed of CO and H₂ by treatment at a high temperature with steam of O₂ or both in suitably restricted proportions.