Catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR CATALYTIC HYDROGENATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE AT TEMPERATURES BETWEEN ABOUT 190* C. AND 320* C. AND PRESSURES BETWEEN 10 AND 50 ATMOSPHERES IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IRON CATALYST PREPARED BY PRECIPITATION AND CONTAINING AN ALKALI COMPOUND OF AN INORGANIC NON-VOLATILE ACID, THE ALKALI CONTENT OF SAID ALKALI COMPOUND RANGING FROM .5-10% CALCULATED FOR K2O OF THE WEIGHT OF THE TOTAL IRON CONTENT, SAID CATALYST HAVING BEEN SUBJECTED TO THE ACTION OF A REDUCING GAS AT A TEMPERATURE OF 200* C. TO 320* C. AND A GAS VELOCITY OF 50 TO 500 CM. PER SECOND UNTIL THE FREE IRON CONTENT OF THE CATALYST IS AT LEAST 60% OF THE TOTAL IRON CONTENT THEREOF, COMPRISING REACTING SAID CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF SAID REDUCED CATALYST AND AT TEMPERATURES WITHIN SAID LIMITS TO PRODUCE A HIGH YIELD OF PRODUCT HAVING AT LEAST 40% OF OXYGENATED COMPOUNDS THEREIN.