TITLE: Fischer-Tropsch Slurry Phase Process Variations. Quarterly Report, April 1-June 30, 1986.

AUTHOR: C. N. Satterfield;   R. Hanlon;   D. K. Matsumoto.

INST.  AUTHOR: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge. 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],  1986,  31p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE86012294/INW

ABSTRACT:

In studies at 232 deg C and 248 deg C and 0.92 MPa, during the first 20 hours on stream, both Fischer-Tropsch synthesis activity and CO consumption increased to quasi-steady-state values. The bulk catalyst, initially alpha -Fe, was converted to a mixture of alpha -Fe and iron carbides, as determined by Moessbauer spectroscopy. During the first few hours, methane selectivity decreased markedly while the olefin/paraffin ratio increased. No change was observed in the C sub 2 -C sub 8 product distribution with time on stream. When an industrial iron-based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is first put on stream some 20 to 40 hours may elapse before its activity and selectivity approach steady-state conditions and during this time the phases present in the catalyst usually change markedly. The present study used a fused triply-promoted magnetite catalyst, sold for use in ammonia synthesis, which is very similar to one of the kinds of iron catalyst used industrially at SASOL in South Africa.  It was completely reduced initially. Reaction was carried out in semi-continuous fashion in a well-stirred 1-litter autoclave. We were particularly concerned with studying the activity and selectivity of this catalyst as it approached steady-state behavior and determining if this correlated with the phases present in the catalyst as determined by Moessbauer spectroscopy. 20 refs., 9 figs., 1 tab.(ERA citation 11:040086)

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/80015-3

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC22-85PC80015