Production of alcohols

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF ALCOHOLS FROM A SYNTHESIS GAS CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN EMPLOYING TOTAL PRESSURES OF BETWEEN 100 AND 600 ATMOSPHERES WHICH INCLUDES HEATING THE SYNTHESIS GAS TO REACTION TEMPERATURES ABOVE 250* C., PASSING SUCH HEATED GAS THROUGH A REACTION ZONE CONTAINING A CATALYST, COOLING THE GAS AFTER LEAVING THE REACTION ZONE, REHEATING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE COOLED GAS TO ABOVE 250* C AND RECYCLING THE HEATED GAS THROUGH THE REACTION ZONE. THE STEPS WHICH COMPRISE MAINTAINING SUCH GAS IN CONTACT WITH A FERROUS METAL NON-RESISTANT TO CARBON MONOXIDE DURING SUCH PROCESS, MAINTAINING A PARTIAL PRESSURE OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE GAS FROM THE TIME IT LEAVES THE REACTION ZONE TO THE TIME IT IS HEATED AND RECYCLED TO THE REACTION ZONE OF UP TO 20 ATMOSPHERES AND INTRODUCING A FRESH GAS RICHER IN CARBON MONOXIDE THAN THE RECYCLED GAS AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW 100* C. INTO THE REACTION ZONE IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO INCREASE THE PARTIAL PRESSURE OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE SYNTHESIS GAS AT THE POINT THE FRESH GAS IS INTRODUCED INTO THE REACTION ZONE TO ABOVE 20 ATMOSPHERES.