Fisher-Tropsch Process

Adnan Bashir
Bin Divakaransantha
Prakash Poudel
Semir Kelifa
Department of Chemical and Bio molecular Engineering, University of
Maryland
CHBE446
February 05, 2015

Outline
Intro/Historical

Background

Definition
Reaction

type/Mechanism

Use/Industrial

Importance

Technology/Reactors
Catalysis
Conclusion

History

Sabatien & Senderens (1902)

produced mixture of hydrocarbons

Not favorable at the time

No single product formed

Priority given to methanol and

ammonia

History Cont.
Fischer and Tropsch

Used base catalyst like alkalized iron and produced synthol

Temperature of about 400-450 Celsius and 150 atm

Higher hydrogen to CO ratio produced better product

Tested this fluid like substance in 1922 NSU motorbike

Seated 2 people and outperformed reference fuel

Catalyst video

History Cont..

Tested this fluid like substance in 1922

NSU motorbike

Seated 2 people and outperformed

reference fuel

Encouraging performance led to World

War II fuel supply

Fist plant made in Germany in 1934

By 1938 660,000 tons per-anum

produced

Source: http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/jspui/bitstream/10539/11587/4/Chapter%202%20-%20Literature%20review%20-%20FTS.pdf

Reaction steps
Associative

adsorption of CO and splitting of C/O bon

Dissociative adsorption of 2H2
Transfer

of 2H to the oxygen to yield H2O

Desorption
Transfer

of H2O

of 2H to the carbon to yield CH2

Main reactions

Alkane formation

Favored

by high /CO ratio

Strong hydrogenating catalyst is needed.
Alkene formation
Favored

by low /CO ratio .

Main reactions cont..

Water-gas-shift reaction

WGS

activity is high in iron catalyst and

low in cobalt or ruthenium catalyst.
Helpful to adjust /CO ratio.

Useful Products
Gas-to-liquids

(GTL)

Biomass-to-liquids
Coal
Can

Source: http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2010/ph240/liu1/

(BTL)

to liquid (CTL)

be used to produce

I.

Deiseal Fuel/Jet
Fuel/Kerosene

II.

Waxes/Lubricants

III.

Naphtha/Gasoline/Detergent

Technology/ Reactors
Fixed Bed Reactors

Originally used

Challenges associated with

removal of heat

Fluidized Bed Reactors

Better temperature control

High yields for Gasoline and light

products

Source:http://www.altenergymag.com/emagazine/2014/02/india-sustainable-communities-proposal/2216
http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2015/cy/c4cy01547a#!divAbstract

Technology cont..
Slurry Reactors
Small

catalyst particles
suspended in a liquid
with low vapor
pressure
Low

Temperature

Flexible
High

design

yield for waxes

Source:http://www.altenergymag.com/emagazine/2014/02/india-sustainable-communities-proposal/2216

Catalysis

Based on Transition Metals

Iron(Fe)
-Low Cost
-Higher Water Gas Shift activity
-Suitable for lower syngas(H2/CO)

Cobalt(Co)
-More Active
-Less Water Gas Shift activity
-Higher Cost
Source:http://periodictable.com/Elements/027/

Catalysis cont..
Nickel(Ni)

I.

-Promotes Methane
formation
-Generally not desired
Ruthenium(Ru)

II.

High molecular weight

Hydrocarbons

.High
.Not

Cost

generally used
Source:http://periodictable.com/Elements/027/

Promoters

Fe Based Catalysts

- Promoted with Alkali metals

-to obtain high basicity, and to stabilize catalyst
-Higher alkali level higher the shift to longer chains
-Addition of copper: Enhances reducibility

Co Based Catalysts

-promoted with small amounts of noble metals

-reduces reduction temperature/pressure
-yields less olefins and oxygenated products

Cost

Source: http://www.tc2.ch.tum.de/fileadmin/tuchtc2/www/ICP1/ICP1_1314/9-FT_synthesis-

Conclusion

Process developed by Fischer and Tropsch

Many possibilities exist and it is still a research interest

Useful for production of clean energy and the future of

Biofuels

Different reactor technologies for different desirable

products

Catalysts utilized based on need and cost

Questions?

Sources
http://www.ebah.com.br/content/ABAAABOMcAL/fischer2013tropsch-catalysis-the-basis-for-anemerging-industry
http://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/jspui/bitstream/10539/11587/4/Chapter%202%20-%20Literature
%20review%20-%20FTS.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fischer%E2%80%93Tropsch_process
http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2010/ph240/liu1/
http://www.velocys.com/our_products_processes_ft.php
http://
www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/energy/assets/pdfs/cctr/outreach/Basics1-CoalGasification-Jun0
7.pdf
http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/pdf/Technology/Fischer_Tropsch_Technology.pdf
http://www.tc2.ch.tum.de/fileadmin/tuchtc2/www/ICP1/ICP1_1314/9-FT_synthesis-2013_PW.pdf
http
://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2012/11/20/little-big-tech-can-fischer-tropsch-technology-work
-at-smaller-scale
/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fischer%E2%80%93Tropsch_process