Production of carbon monoxide from carbon

A process of producing carbon monoxide comprising heating a carbon-containing feed comprising finely divided particles formed by admixing finely divided particles of solid carbon with a slurry of zinc nitrate, removing enough of the liquid of said slurry to give a solid product, calcining said solid product at a temperature no greater than about 550.degree. C. to convert a substantial portion of the zinc material to zinc oxide, and then comminuting the calcined material to the desired particle size, said heating being sufficient to cause carbon in said feed to be converted to carbon monoxide.