Catalytic performance of an iron-based catalyst in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

• Published in: Fuel processing technology 2014-11, Vol.127, p.163-170
• Main Authors: Sarkari, Majid, Fazlollahi, Farhad, Ajamein, Hossein, Atashi, Hossein, Hecker, William C., Baxter, Larry L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Carbon monoxide; Catalysts; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fischer–Tropsch synthesis; Fixed-bed reactor; Fuel processing. Carbochemistry and petrochemistry; Fuels; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogenation; Iron–manganese catalyst; Liquids; Manganese oxides; Reaction kinetics; Synthesis
• ISSN: 0378-3820; 1873-7188
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuproc.2014.05.003

This paper documents the performance and kinetics of an iron/manganese oxide catalyst in a fixed-bed reactor by Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) under conditions favoring the formation of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons (P: 1–12bar; T: 513–543K; H2/CO:1, 1.5, 2mol/mol; gas hourly space velocity: 4200–7000cm3 (STP)/h/gcat). Based on the hypothesis that water inhibits the intrinsic FTS reaction rate, eight kinetic models are considered: six variations of the Langmuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson representation and two empirical power-law models. The kinetic expression/mechanism that most precisely fits the data assumes the following: (1) CO dissociation is reversible and does not involve hydrogen; (2) all hydrogenation steps are irreversible, or the first hydrogenation step is slow and rate determining. Also, the performance of the catalyst for FTS and the hydrocarbon product distributions were investigated under different reaction conditions.