Process for conducting partial oxidation of hydrocarbons

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF HYDROCARBONS IN THE VAPOR PHASE AT A TEMPERATURE NOT INEXCESS OF ABOUT 1000*F. AND UNDER OTHER KNOWN CONDITIONS TO PRODUCE A HOT GASEOUS MIXTURE CONTAINING VALUABLE OXYGENATED HYDROCARBONS. THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRSES CONTACTING SAID MIXTURE IN A REACTION ZONE SUBSTANTIALLY AS SOON AS SAID MIXTURE IS FORMED WITH A FLUIDIZED BED OF HYDROCARBON SYNTHESIS CATALYST WHICH IS IN CONTACT WITH A GASEOUS MIXTURE CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN IN HYDROCARBON SYNTHESIS PROPORTIONS UNDER KNOWN SYNTHESIS CONDITIONS, SAID HOT GASEOUS MIXTURE BEING INTRODUCED INTO SAID ZONE IN AN AMOUNT SUCH THAT IT CONSTITUTES NO MORE THAN ABOUT 25 OR 30 VOLUME PERCENT OF THE GASESOUS MIXTURE IN SAID ZONE WHEN SUBSTANTIALLY PURE OXYGEN IN USED AS THE OXIDIZING AGENT IN SAID PARTIAL OXIDATION PROCESS AND NO MORE THAN ABOUT 12 TO 15 VOLUME PERCENT WHEN AIR IS USED AS THE OXIDIZING AGENT IN SAID PARTIAL OXIDATION PROCESS, AND ALLOWING SAID HOT GASEOUS MIXTURE TO CONTACT SAID FLUIDIZED BED WHEREBY FURTHER CONVERSION OF SAID OXYGENATED HYDROCARBONS IS HALTED WHILE HYDROCARBONS AND ADDITIONAL OXYGENATED COMPOUNDS ARE BEING INDEPENDENTLY SYNTHESIZED IN SAID ZONE UNDER SAID KNOW CONDITIONS.