TITLE: Transition Metal-Graphite Catalysts for Production of Light Hydrocarbons from Synthesis Gas. Quarterly Report, November 1, 1976--January 31, 1977.

AUTHOR: M. P. Rosynek.

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

SPONSOR: Energy Research and Development Administration.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Energy Research and Development Administration [ERDA],  Feb 77, 46p.

ABSTRACT:

Sodium- and potassium-graphites, although possessing high initial activities for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, do not behave catalytically for this reaction. A large fraction of carbon monoxide reactant becomes unreactively adsorbed on these materials, probably via formation of stable carbonyl-type structures, and inhibits the overall reaction rate.  Furthermore, a permanent and irrecoverable loss of activity occurs after only brief usage due to alkali metal destruction by water formed during the reaction. With only minor variations, the behavior of potassium-reduced iron-graphite is similar to that of pure potassium-graphite. Removal of potassium-containing by-products prior to use considerably lowers the initial activity, but does not prevent the eventual, permanent activity loss. On the other hand, commercially-available iron-graphites, prepared by reduction with metal aryls, appear to be very promising as Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. Gas phase carbon mass balances observed for these substances are uniformly high; carbon dioxide production is relatively low, and no apparent loss of activity occurs after extended use. Hydrocarbon product distributions are very reproducible and are largely confined, at 300 exp 0 C, to C sub 1 --C sub 3 paraffins and olefins. The absolute activities of these materials for hydrocarbon production may be six to seven times that of conventional supported iron catalysts. (ERA citation 02:050594)

CONTRACT  NUMBER: EX-76-C-01-2467