Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Reactions

Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Synthesis is one of the key components of the Coal to Liquid (CTL) process, and the optimization of this process is critical to its industrial success. The activity of high surface area cobalt doped catalysts was investigated, and their performance was evaluated by finding their selectivity to C5 ? C8 hydrocarbons using the Low Temperature Fischer-Tropsch (LTFT) process. The two catalyst support types investigated were silica and titania. All catalysts used were prepared by means of an incipient wet impregnation technique using 20 wt% cobalt. The catalysts were then characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), temperature programmed reaction (TPR), and BET surface area analysis. The conversion of H2 and CO to hydrocarbons took place in an Autoclave Engineers tubular fixed bed reactor with a direct sampling port. Online gas chromatography with a mass selective detector was used to analyze the reactor effluent. The results of these analyses will be discussed.