Improving the selectivity of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst

• Main Authors: WERNER OTTO HAAG, WELDON KAY BELL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.02.1992
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; METALLURGY; MINERAL WAXES; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PEAT; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVEHYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, ORGASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

A Fischer-Tropsch iron catalyst has improved selectivity for liquid hydrocarbons (reduced selectivity for methane) provided. The catalyst is prepared by treatment of the usual inactive catalyst precursor with water vapor at elevated temperature either after conventional activation by syngas or concurrently therewith. This treatment with water vapor does not affect catalytic activity. The resulting catalyst may be used to advantage either to increase temperature and throughput, or to increase liquid hydrocarbon selectivity, compared with conventional catalyst that has not been "selectivated". The exemplified catalyst is promoted with potassium and contains copper.