Spatially-resolved reaction profiles in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis – influence of operating conditions and promotion for iron-based catalysts

Abstract

The complex reaction mechanism of iron-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis comprises of manifold primary and secondary reaction pathways. Within this work, an experimental setup for spatially-resolved measurements on promoted iron-based Fischer-Tropsch catalysts is presented, allowing for a general study of the influence of operating conditions and promotion as well as of the influence of secondary reactions on product selectivity. It was found that, depending on catalyst composition, considerable hydrogenation of 1-alcohols and olefins occurs, while no considerable influence of reinitiation of chain growth on product distribution could be found.

Keywords

• Fischer-Tropsch synthesis
• Reaction profile
• Iron catalyst
• In-situ analysis