Patent GB-468434-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and apparatus for the conversion of oxides of carbon with hydrogen
IPC: C07C1/06
Filed: 1935-11-29
Abstract: The catalytic conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into hydrocarbons and their oxygen derivatives is effected in a liquid medium consisting of oils obtained in a previous conversion under the same or similar conditions and containing at least 1 per cent, usually 10--100 per cent, of constituents boiling within the benzine range which are vaporized under the prevailing conditions of temperature and pressure.  The said medium may be prepared by leading the reaction products through a cooling zone, e.g. a reflux condenser, so that the vapours are wholly or in part condensed and returned to the reaction zone.  A foreign oil may be used for commencing the conversion being gradually replaced by freshly formed reaction product.  The invention includes working not only in liquid phase but that state above the critical temperature of any or all of the constituents of the medium in which the densities in the gaseous and liquid states show no appreciable difference.  Catalysts may be in the form of pieces or finely divided solids suspended in the liquid medium. Temperatures may be 200--420 DEG  C. and pressures above 10, e.g. 50--250 atmos.  Lower pressures, e.g. 1 atmos., may, however, be employed.  In examples: (1) iron powder, obtained by <PICT:0468434/IV/1> decomposing iron carbonyl, is mixed with silicon powder, titanium dioxide, potassium permanganate, and water and fused in a stream of oxygen whereby it is oxidized to Fe3O4.  The melt is cooled, comminuted, and treated with hydrogen at 650 DEG  C.  This catalyst is arranged in layers b (provisional drawing) in a tube a which is filled to above the top layer with an oil boiling between 65 and 160 DEG  C.  A water cooled reflux condenser e at the upper end of the reaction zone, and a compensating vessel c are provided.  A CO, H2 mixture is led upwards into the tube a in which the pressure is 100 atmos. and temperature 360--380 DEG  C.  Liquid products consist of an hydrocarbon oil mainly boiling between 40 and 300 DEG C.  The gases leaving at l contain paraffins and olefines; (2) the vessel 1 (complete drawing) containing layers of the same catalyst is filled with oil obtained in a previous conversion and heated to 310--340 DEG  C., the pressure being 100 atmos. Preheated oil and a CO, H2 mixture are led in at 8, reaction products leaving at the top and passing through a heat exchanger 2 to a cooler 3.  Condensed oil and water separate in 4, part of the oil being returned by way of heater 7 and exchanger 2 to vessel 1.  Gases leaving at 9 are freed from light oils and normally gaseous hydrocarbons of 3 and 4 carbon atoms.  In addition to oil, water soluble compounds, chiefly ethanol with methanol are produced.ALSO:A catalyst for the conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into hydrocarbons and their oxygen derivatives is prepared by mixing iron powder, obtained by decomposing iron carbonyl, with silicon powder, titanium dioxide, potassium permanganate, and water and fusing in a stream of oxygen whereby the iron is oxidized to Fe3O4.  The melt is cooled, comminuted and treated with hydrogen at 650 DEG  C.