TITLE: Hydrocarbon selectivity of cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalysts.

AUTHOR: I. C. Yates;   C. N. Satterfield.

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],  Jul 91,  48p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE91018065INW

ABSTRACT:

A cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalyst was studied in a continuous-flow, well-stirred slurry reactor at 220 to 240(degrees)C, 0.5 to 1.5 MPa, H(sub 2)/CO feed ratios between 1.5 and 3.5, H(sub 2) conversions between 6 and 68%, and CO conversions between 11 and 73%. Increasing space velocity (decreasing conversion) or decreasing reactor H(sub 2)/CO ratio decreased the yield of (undesired) C(sub 1) products and increased the yield of (desired) C(sub 10)+ products. Reactor temperature and pressure had little effect on the carbon number distribution. These findings are interpreted in terms of the extent of the readsorption of 1-alkenes into growing chains on the catalyst surface. The relative selectivity to 1-alkenes by the primary synthesis and secondary reaction of l-alkenes to n-alkanes and 2-alkenes depends on reactor H(sub 2)/CO ratio and CO concentration. 25 refs., 15 figs.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/79816-T1

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC22-87PC79816