TITLE: Fischer Tropsch synthesis in supercritical fluids. Quarterly technical progress report, July 1, 1993--September 30, 1993.

AUTHOR: A. Akgerman;   D. B. Bukur.

INST.  AUTHOR: Texas A and M Univ., College Station. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  1993,  11p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE94005757INW

ABSTRACT:

During this quarter we have tested and calibrated six thermocouples of the temperature probe assembly. We obtained additional information on potential supercritical fluids from several vendors. We found out that all three potential supercritical solvents (propane, butane, and hexane) have less than 1 ppM sulfur impurities, whereas the maximum amount of sulfur in the feed should be less than 0.05 ppM. This remains to be a potential problem, since high levels of sulfur in the feed will result in catalyst poisoning. However, this would be the case with all three potential solvents, and thus we have decided to use propane as the supercritical fluid in our reaction studies based on its cost and favorable supercritical properties. In our shake down tests we will not use a catalyst guard bed for sulfur removal. If we experience problems with catalyst deactivation due to sulfur in feed, the guard bed will be installed in the propane feed line. We have ordered 1-tetradecene and will begin measuring diffusion coefficients of this compound in subcritical propane.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/92545-4

CONTRACT  NUMBER: FG22-92PC92545