TITLE: Applied Fischer-Tropsch Kinetics with Flame-Sprayed Catalysts. Final Report.

AUTHOR: W. J. Thomson.

INST.  AUTHOR: Washington State Univ., Pullman. 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],  Jan 83,  44p.

ABSTRACT:

Fischer-Tropsch kinetic data have been obtained for a flame-sprayed iron (taconite) catalyst at total pressures up to 3.1 mPa, at temperatures between 525K and 600K and for H sub 2 /CO ratios between 1.0 and 20.0.  Attempts to correlate the kinetic data according to previously proposed kinetic schemes were not completely successful at the higher temperature, possible due to pore diffusion limitations. Empirical correlations were also attempted to determine the dependency of the olefin-to-paraffin ratio, the C sub 5+ fraction of the hydrocarbon make and the CO sub 2 and CH sub 4 make gas rates on the kinetic variables. It was found that the olefin-to-paraffin ratio was inversely dependent on the H sub 2 to CO ratio and that higher C sub 5+ fractions are favored by high pressures and moderate temperatures. The liquid products were selectively subjected to GC-MS analyses and indicated the presence of straight chain paraffins, peaking at C sub 8 , with some olefins and branched compounds. There was a noticeable initial deactivation of the catalyst during carburization but the catalyst remained stable for a 57 hour on-stream period, once carburization was complete. Deactivation followed very rapidly but there was no indication of the reason (no coke was formed). Other catalyst loadings were found to coke severly under conditions of low H sub 2 /CO  ratio and higher temperatures (approx. 300 exp 0 C). It is concluded that this catalyst concept, while promising, does not produce the quantitites of liquid necessary for economic viability as a transportation fuels process. However, if catalyst activity could be maintained at its initial activity, then it is possible that a successful process could emerge. (ERA citation 08:033265)

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/ET/00260-T1

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC22-78ET00260