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Study of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over a silica supported iron catalyst through the use of reactive scavengers

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5720917
The synthesis of hydrocarbons from H/sub 2/ and CO was studied on a silica-supported Fe catalyst. The synthesis was carried out at 1.54 atm and 200 to 255/sup 0/C in a differential reactor. Conversion of CO never exceeded 2%. The working catalyst was achieved by transforming Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ into a mixture of Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/, bulk carbides, and iron under synthesis conditions. Synthesis product distributions and the rate of methane formation are reported. Trends in CO/sub 2/ formation and the presence of cyclic hydrocarbons, saturated and unsaturated, suggest the presence of some Fe/sub 3/O/sub 4/ at the catalyst surface. Cyclohexene addition to the feed generated low concentrations of alkyl-substituted cyclohexene and cyclohexanes. Pyridine addition to the feed generated alkyl-substituted pyridines. Scavenged products were not formed from interactions between the scavenger and synthesis products on support, indicating that the scavengers react with species involved in chain propagation. Pyridine was used to scavenge C/sub 1/ to C/sub 3/ alkyl species from the catalyst surface. The ..cap alpha..-alkylpyridine distributions were proportional to the dependence of C/sub 1/ to C/sub 3/ Fischer-Tropsch products. Two probable Fischer-Tropsch mechanisms were derived.
Research Organization:
Texas Univ., Austin (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AS05-80ER10720
OSTI ID:
5720917
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/10720-11; ON: DE83015145
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English