GB278745A - Improvements in and relating to the manufacture of hydrocarbons and substances containing adsorbed hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

278,745. General Carbonalpha Co., (Assignees of Aarts, H. C. J.). Oct. 7, 1926, [Convention date]. Liquid fuel.-Methane and other hydrocarbons are produced by heating active carbon with hydrogen or gases containing hydrogen at 150-600‹ C. with or without a catalyst, at ordinary or slightly above ordinary pressure. The hydrocarbons produced may be adsorbed in the active carbon so as to form a solid fuel suitable for use in internalcombustion engines and for other purposes. The carbon may be obtained by heating carbon monoxide to 230-600‹ C. with or without a catalyst. Activated bone charcoal, wood charcoal and other activated materials containing free carbon derived from vegetable, animal, or mineral sources may be used. It mav be advisable to add a catalyst such as nickel, which may be effected by drenching the carbon with finely divided nickel oxalate or nitrate and reducing with hydrogen at a suitable temperature. When the process is effected at 150-400‹ C. the products are mainly saturated hydrocarbons, unsaturated hydro carbons being produced at 400-600‹ C. Coal, peat, wood, brown coal, and other carbonaceous materials may be gasified with or without a. previous distillation and with or without the use of steam, so as to produce a gas containing carbon monoxide, which is then heated to 230-600‹ C., preferably 300-500‹ C. The decomposition may be started by means of a catalyst such as iron, nickel, or cobalt oxide, but the carbon itself will act as catalyst when produced. Hydrogen is introduced into a closed vessel containing excess of the active carbon at 150-600‹ C., when hydrocarbons are formed and adsorbed by the carbon forming a more or less solid or plastic product; or the chamber may be provided with an outlet, the hydrocarbons being withdrawn continuously or otherwise. Heat is necessary to recover the hydrocarbons from the carbon, or the quantity of carbon may be only such as to combine with the hydrogen so that only gaseous hydrocarbons are obtained. When using a suitable final temperature high-boiling-point hydrocarbons are adsorbed and the lower hydrocarbons particularly methane are not adsorbed. When the solid adsorptionproduct is used as fuel in an internal-combustion engine, the heat of compression first separates the adsorbed hydrocarbon and then burns the carbon, the hydrocarbon being the last to react, avoiding knocking effects. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) includes the use of bone charcoal, wood charcoal, and " other animal, vegetable or mineral active carbonaceous materials " and states that when charcoal or a similar substance is used it is advisable to distribute therethrough a catalyst such as nickel, which is effected as above described. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specifications as accepted.