TITLE: Fundamental Research at Catalysts for the Hydrogenation of Carbon Monoxide.

AUTHOR: M. Ritschel.

INST.  AUTHOR: Bonn Univ. (Germany, F.R.). Inst. fuer Physikalische Chemie.

LANGUAGE: German

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: Germany Federal Republic

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DEE],  Jul 80,  138p.

ABSTRACT:

The catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide (Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) on iron catalysts is presently applied only in the Republic of South Africa to produce aliphatics (alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols, ketones, organic acids, etc.). To use this method of coal liquefaction economically in Western Europe or in the USA, it is necessary to modify the synthesis, e.g., in such a way that predominantly gaseous olefins (ethylene, propylene, butylene) are formed. For the development of such a process, iron catalysts have been studied under uhv and more practical conditions. New information about the possibility of influencing the reaction has been obtained. On the basis of polycrystalline iron-whiskers, catalysts with high olefin selectivity and remarkably long life could be developed. Supplementary investigations of the ad- and desorption of (CO, H sub 2 , FT-products) and the catalytic decomposition of ethyl alcohol led to a new formulation of the FT-reaction mechanism. (ERA citation 05:031455)