Study of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over iron-based catalysts using a well-stirred slurry reactor

Thesis/Dissertation · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6174982

Dictor, R A

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over iron catalysts has been researched for well over 60 years, yet relatively few detailed investigations of the kinetics and selectivity of hydrocarbon synthesis have been done using unpromoted bulk iron-based catalysts. In this investigation, Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/, potassium-promoted Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/, fused iron, Fe/sub 3/C, and Fe were tested for their activity and selectivity for hydrocarbon synthesis, and comparisons were made between the catalysts. Experiments were done using a well-stirred slurry reaction which was free of temperature and concentration gradients. The effluent from the reactor was analyzed on line using a dual-column gas chromatograph. The compositions of fresh and used catalyst samples were determined using X-ray diffraction. The activity of fused iron catalyst increases with extent of reduction in H/sub 2/ - attributed to increases in surface area. Principal products are normal 1-olefins and paraffins, CO/sub 2/, H/sub 2/O; branched olefins, aldehydes and alcohols are also formed. The catalyst has very little hydrogenation or isomerization activity due to potassium promotion. Aldehydes reduce to alcohols; the water-gas-shift reaction occurs. The kinetics and selectivity observed using potassium-promoted Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ were nearly identical to those of fused iron. In the absence of promoter, the products are almost exclusively n-olefins, n-paraffins, CH/sub 3/OH, H/sub 2/O, CO/sub 2/. Fe/sub 2/O/sub 3/ is active for hydrogenation and isomerization.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6174982
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010500* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Products & By-Products
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
ALKALI METALS
ALKANES
ALKENES
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CATALYSIS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
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CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
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CHROMATOGRAPHY
COHERENT SCATTERING
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ELEMENTS
FISCHER-TROPSCH SYNTHESIS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGENATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IRON
IRON CARBIDES
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON OXIDES
ISOMERIZATION
KINETICS
METALS
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
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PROMOTERS
REACTION KINETICS
SCATTERING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
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SYNTHESIS
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER
X-RAY DIFFRACTION