TITLE: Development and Process Evaluation of Improved Fischer-Tropsch Slurry Catalysts: Quarterly Technical Progress Report, 1 July-30 September 1987.

AUTHOR: H. P. Withers;   D. B. Bukur;   M. P. Rosynek.

INST.  AUTHOR: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA.

SPONSOR: Texas A and M Univ., College Station.*Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB. TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  21 Dec 87,  98p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE88015637/INW

ABSTRACT:

Nine runs in fixed bed reactors were performed during this period using the precipitated iron catalysts prepared in our laboratory. These tests were made to investigate the effect of copper and potassium promoters on catalyst activity and selectivity at various process conditions. Catalysts with 0 and 0.05 parts potassium were less stable and less active than catalysts with higher potassium loadings. Potassium and copper also influence product selectivity. One additional run was also made with United Catalyst, Inc. fused iron catalyst as a repeat of a previous run.  The investigation of catalyst activation/reduction procedures was begun in this period. The reductant type, temperature and pressure of the reduction will be studied as parameters, using a 100 Fe/3.0 Cu/0.2 K catalyst.  Surface area and pore size distribution measurements have been continued for the doubly promoted catalysts. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) has also been applied to the doubly promoted catalysts. The effects of copper and potassium on catalyst reduction are similar to those observed for singly promoted catalysts. Work on isothermal reduction tests has also been performed. The promotional effect of copper on iron reduction is also seen at isothermal conditions, in agreement with the TPR results. Also, it was found that isothermal CO reduction occurs more rapidly than with H sub 2 . The trapping scheme of both fixed bed reactors and the existing slurry reactor have been modified to allow for the high pressure collection of products. Improvements in the temperature control of the fixed bed reactors have been made. A new slurry reactor, including a computer data acquisition/control system, has been built. The preliminary tests of this system have been completed. 7 refs., 29 figs., 16 tabs. (ERA citation 13:053387)

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/80011-T4

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC22-85PC80011