Patent GB-496292-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the manufacture of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen
IPC: C07C1/04
Filed: 1937-05-29
Abstract: Hydrocarbons are made by catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen while under a pressure of at most half an atmosphere, preferably 0,25 to 0,1 atmosphere.  Diluent gases such as steam, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrocarbons, if desired reaction products of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, may be present, for example in amounts up to 10 or more times the volume of carbon monoxide. Cobalt and iron catalysts may be used when liquid hydrocarbons are desired, and nickel for methane synthesis.  They may be activated with alumina, thoria, magnesia, or zinc oxide, and deposited on carriers.  Self-supporting catalysts, e.g. a nickel-alumina catalyst prepared by co-precipitation in the cold, shaping, and reduction, as described in Specification 465,157, may be utilized.  Iron and cobalt catalysts can be made similarly. Temperatures vary, for example, between 150 and 350 DEG  C. Preferably an excess of hydrogen is present; for example, the volume of hydrogen may be twice, three, or four times that of the carbon monoxide.  Reaction tubes designed to give turbulent flow which may be lined with catalytic metal can be used.  The gases may be recycled or passed through a series of reaction zones with intermediate separation of liquid hydrocarbons. In an example, carbon monoxide is passed with twice its volume of hydrogen at a pressure of 0,2 atmos. over a cobalt-thoria catalyst at 180 DEG  C. The greater part of the hydrocarbons are condensed and the residual vapours mixed with fresh gases and recycled.  3 to 6 volumes of steam or carbon dioxide may be added for each volume of carbon monoxide present.ALSO:Hydrocarbons are made by catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen while under a pressure of at most half an atmosphere, preferably 0,25 to 0,1 atmosphere.  Diluent gases such as steam, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrocarbons, if desired reaction products of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, may be present, for example in amounts up to 10 or more times the volume of carbon monoxide.  Cobalt and iron catalysts may be used when liquid hydrocarbons are desired, and nickel for methane synthesis.  They may be activated with alumina, thoria, magnesia, or zinc oxide, and deposited on carriers.  Self-supporting catalysts, e.g. a nickel-alumina catalyst prepared by co-precipitation in the cold, shaping, and reduction, as described in Specification 465,157, [Group III], may be utilized.  Iron and cobalt catalysts can be made similarly.  Temperatures vary, for example, between 150 and 350 DEG C.  Preferably an excess of hydrogen is present, for example, the volume of hydrogen may be twice, three or four times that of the carbon monoxide.  Reaction tubes designed to give turbulent flow which may be lined with catalytic metal can be used.  The gases may be recycled or passed through a series of reaction zones with intermediate separation of liquid hydrocarbons.  In an example, carbon monoxide is passed with twice its volume of hydrogen at a pressure of 0,1 atmos. over a cobaltthoria catalyst at 180 DEG  C. The greater part of the hydrocarbons are condensed, and the residual vapours mixed with fresh gases and recycled.  3 to 6 volumes of steam or carbon dioxide may be added for each volume of carbon monoxide present.