TITLE: Deactivation by carbon of iron catalysts for indirect liquefaction.  Annual technical progress report, September 16, 1988-September 15, 1989.

AUTHOR: C. H. Bartholomew.

INST.  AUTHOR: Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT. Catalysis Lab.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  15 Aug 90,  24p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE90015665INW

ABSTRACT:

This report describes recent progress in a fundamental, three-year investigation of carbon formation and its effects on the activity and selectivity of promoted iron catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis, the objectives of which are: determine rates and mechanisms of carbon deactivation of unsupported Fe and Fe/K catalysts during CO hydrogenation over a range of CO concentrations, CO:H(sub 2) ratios, and temperatures; model the rates of deactivation of the same catalysts in fixed-bed reactors. This quarter, progress was made toward completion of a systems manual for the automated Berty reactor system; system testing was also initiated. CO hydrogenation activity/selectivity tests were conducted on a new alumina-promoted iron catalyst Fe-A-201 at a H(sub 2)CO ratio of 3 in the temperature range of 200--230(degree)C over a period of 150 hours. The specific activity of this catalyst was the same within experimental error as previously tested unsupported, unpromoted iron catalysts; however, this new alumina-promoted catalyst was found to have greater thermal stability against sintering upon rereduction in hydrogen. Long term tests areconsistent with loss of specific activity and an increase in methane selectivity due to carbon deposition after reaction at 230(degree)C.  During Quarters 10--12 design of software for a computer-automated reactor system to be used in the kinetic and deactivation studies was continued.  Further progress was made toward the completion of the control language, control routines, and software for operating this system. Progress was also made on the operating manual and testing of the system hardware and software. 48 refs., 8 figs., 3 tabs.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/90533-12

CONTRACT  NUMBER: FG22-86PC90533