Hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide

An interesting development in the use of metal carbonyl catalysts is the production of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a molten solution of sodium chloride and aluminum chloride with It4(CO) 2 a catalyst yields a mixture of hydrocarbons. Ethane is the primary product (184). 

According to Eidus (90) carbides formed on cobalt or nickel catalysts are neither intermediate products nor catalysts promoting the formation of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. In the absence of hydrogen carbon monoxide poisoned the cobalt catalyst. Despite Eidus results, Braude and Bruns (42) supported Craxford s assumption that the carbide is formed by reaction of the metal (iron) with carbon monoxide and hydrogen. It was pointed out by Eidus (84a) that Braude and Bruns did not clearly distinguish between the carbide and free carbon... 

It was not in Mittasch s character to be satisfied with this conspicuous achievement. Parallel to extensive studies on the influence of pressure, temperature, gas composition, catalyst poisons and other factors on the synthesis reaction, he worked toward new types of multi-component catalysts for a great number of other catalytic gas reactions. With his associates Ch. Beck, C. Muller, and Ch. Schneider, he thus discovered efficient catalysts for the water gas reaction, for hydrogenations in the gas phase (among which the synthesis of alcohols and hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen is particularly noteworthy), for the production of nitric acid via the oxidation of ammonia, and for many more industrial processes which are the backbone of large segments of our present chemical industry. 

The Fischer-Tropsch process synthesizes various hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The Bergius process, which breaks down coal into a synthetic crude oil with the help of hydrogen and a catalyst, enabled Nazi Germany to produce large amounts of synthetic aviation gasoline. 

Patart published (1921-1926) some papers on synthesis of methanol and mixtures of other oxygenated compounds and hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen at high pressures. The conditions are similar to the synthesis of synthol (Fischer-Tropsch) and of methanol (Badische Anilin and Sodafabrik, 33). 

The Committee of Imperial Defense, subcommittee on oil from coal (Falmouth) and the Committee of the British Labor Party (Hall) made thorough investigations on the economics of production of synthetic fuels for England (57). After World War II, Hall published further papers on synthesis of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen (58). 

Figure 13 presents an example for changes in the behavior of a cobalt catalyst used for synthesis of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and analytical investigations of a cobalt catalyst at different distances from the gas inlet (94). 

Considerable work has been done on the catalytic effects of various chemicals on the reactions of carbon with steam. This work is of classic importance in the water-gas reactions. In addition, many studies have been made to determine active catalysts for synthesizing hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. These two reaction systems are usually carried out at vastly different conditions of temperature and pressure. 

Piohler, H., Synthesis of Hydrocarbons from Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen, 158 pp. U. S. Bureau of Mines Special Rept. (1947) Storch, H. H., Golumbic,... 

IV. The Synthesis of Hydrocarbons from Carbon Monoxide, AND Related Reactions... 

Two years later Fischer s decade-long research moved to the next level with the construction in 1934 of the first large pilot plant in which he planned to solve the synthesis three main problems and synthesize hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Ruhrchemie AG, a company Ruhr coal industrialists founded, envisioned the F-T synthesis as an outlet for its surplus coke, and upon acquiring the patent rights to the synthesis in 1934, constructed the pilot plant in Oberhausen-Holten (Sterkrade-Holten), near Essen. The plant operated at the conditions used in Fischer s small pilot plant and had an annual capacity of 1,000 metric tons (7,240 barrels) of motor gasoline, diesel oil, and lubricating oil. 

The synthesis of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas) (the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis) is a procedure for the indirect liquefaction of coal (Speight, 2008, and references cited therein Chadeesingh, 2011, and references cited therein). 

The sum reactions of synthesis of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which depend upon the catalyst and the conditions of the reaction, may be represented by various equations. These equations essentially may be comprised from the two reactions in equations (13.183) and (13.184) ... 

F. J. Wright, M. A. Richard and J. C. Pirkle, Process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and water, US 4565831 A, 1986. 

Fischer-Tropsch process A process used for producing hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Named after German chemist Franz Fischer (1852 1932) and... 

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