Fisher-Tropsch process

Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) operated a coal hydrogenation plant at a pressure of 20 MPa (2900 psi) and a temperature of 400—500°C to produce Hquid hydrocarbon fuel from 1935 to the outbreak of World War II. As many as 12 such plants operated in Germany during World War II to make the country less dependent on petroleum from natural sources but the process was discontinued when hostihties ceased (see Coal conversion PROCESSES,liquefaction). Currentiy the Fisher-Tropsch process is being used at the Sasol plants in South Africa to convert synthesis gas into largely ahphatic hydrocarbons at 10—20 MPa and about 400°C to supply 70% of the fuel needed for transportation. 

The world s largest concentration of Lurgi gasifiers is in South Africa, where Sasol operates three major complexes. The Sasol plants (Sasol I, II, and III) located in Seconda and Sasolburg gasify approximately 30 million ton/year of bituminous coal to synthesis gas, which is converted to fuels and chemicals via the Fisher-Tropsch process. It was recently announced (International Coal... 

The Fisher-Tropsch plants build in Germany before World War II and during World War II produced about 16,000 barrels (1 barrel = 0.159 m3) per day of liquid fuels from coal, employing a Co catalyst in fixed-bed reactors [5], However, during the 1950s, the Fisher-Tropsch process turned out to be uneconomical as a consequence of the abundant supply of crude oil. Nevertheless, currently considerable attention is being paid to develop alternatives of the Fisher-Tropsch process to generate liquid fuels from natural gas, biomass, oil sands, oil shales, and coal [134],... 

In addition to its importance in alloys (for example, alnico, vicalloy, and stellite), cobalt is of use as a catalyst in the Fisher-Tropsch process in which carbon monoxide is hydrogenated to a mixture of hydrocarbons. It appears likely here that one or more carbonyl derivatives of cobalt act as intermediates. Nickel is of importance in a number of alloys Monel metal, alnico, stainless steel, etc.). In a very finely divided state Raney nickel), it is of use to the organic chemist in hydrogenation reactions, for it will absorb large quantities of hydrogen gas with probable breakage of the molecules to atoms (p. 27). 

The potential of rare earth compounds as catalytically active phases and promoters in pollution control, catalytic combustion, polymer production and in the fuel and chemical manufacture and thermal stabilizers for catalyst supports (alumina, silica-alumina, titania) need to be mentioned. Application of rare earths in alternate fuels technology (Fisher-Tropsch Processes, natural gas to transport fuel pathways) is also promising. 

Rare earth oxides are useful for partial oxidation of natural gas to ethane and ethylene. Samarium oxide doped with alkali metal halides is the most effective catalyst for producing predominantly ethylene. In syngas chemistry, addition of rare earths has proven to be useful to catalyst activity and selectivity. Formerly thorium oxide was used in the Fisher-Tropsch process. Recently ruthenium supported on rare earth oxides was found selective for lower olefin production. Also praseodymium-iron/alumina catalysts produce hydrocarbons in the middle distillate range. Further unusual catalytic properties have been found for lanthanide intermetallics like CeCo2, CeNi2, ThNis- Rare earth compounds (Ce, La) are effective promoters in alcohol synthesis, steam reforming of hydrocarbons, alcohol carbonylation and selective oxidation of olefins. 

The following carbenic intermediates have been proposed in the literature as participating to a Fisher-Tropsch process ... 

Other reactions that involve gases and catalysts are ones in which the reactants are in the gas phase but the product is a solid or liquid. The Fisher-Tropsch process is an example of such a reaction. 

In the Fisher-Tropsch process, carbon monoxide is generated by treating coal with steam, a process called coal gasification. 

Synthesis of hydrocarbons by the catalytic Fisher-Tropsch process. 

Since the 1920s the Fisher-Tropsch process (see http //www.fischer-tropsch.org, accessed 22 June 2013) [26] is the one most commercially exploited as a route to hydrocarbons. Through gasification of biomass (or other carbon sources such as coal or natural gas) a synthesis gas (syngas) composed mainly of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen can be produced. 

Dorao CA, Jakobsen HA (2006) A parallel time-space least squares spectral element solver for incompressible flow problems. Appl Math Comput. doi 10.1016/j.amc.2006.07.009 Dry ME (1996) Practical and theoretical aspects of the catalytic Fisher-Tropsch process. App Cat A 138 319-344... 

Abbott J. Gas heated reforming improves Fisher—Tropsch process. Oil Gas J 2002, Apr. 22 64—9. 

TABLE 2.16. Product Distribution from the Fisher-Tropsch Process. 

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