Effects of solvent on Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

• Published in: Applied catalysis. A, General Vol. 303; no. 2; pp. 251 - 257
• Main Authors: Liu, Xiaohao, Linghu, Wensheng, Li, Xiaohong, Asami, Kenji, Fujimoto, Kaoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 28.04.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Catalysis; Chemistry; Co/SiO 2 catalyst; Exact sciences and technology; Fischer–Tropsch reaction; General and physical chemistry; Solvent; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; α-Olefin synthesis; Fischer–Tropsch reaction; Co/SiO 2 catalyst; Solvent; α-Olefin synthesis; Solvent effect; Heterogeneous catalysis; Olefin; Fischer Tropsch synthesis; Co/SiO2 catalyst; Silica; Ethylenic compound; Catalyst; Fischer-Tropsch reaction
• ISSN: 0926-860X; 1873-3875
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcata.2006.02.009

The influence of solvent on the selectivity of α-olefin in the product hydrocarbon as a function of carbon number over a 20 wt.% Co on SiO 2 catalyst under the typical reaction conditions of 513 K, 4.5 MPa and H 2/CO = 2 has been investigated. Hydrocarbons with different carbon numbers and molecular structures, including n-hexane, n-octane, n-decane, n-dodecane, n-hexadecane, iso-octane and decahydronaphthalene, were used as solvents. Although the selected solvents did not obviously affect the catalytic activity or chain growth probability ( α-value), they exhibited remarkable influences on the α-olefin selectivity. In the case of n-hexane solvent, the α-olefin content in the product decreased markedly with increasing carbon number of the product. The n-decane solvent gave the highest olefin content. It was independent of carbon number on the C 6+ product at the level of about 40%. This could be attributed to quicker desorption, diffusion and more suppressed re-adsorption of primary FTS product (α-olefin).