Enhancement of the Fischer–Tropsch process for producing long-chain hydrocarbons on a cobalt–alumina–silica gel catalyst

Abstract

The effects of the H₂/CO ratio, pressure, temperature, and the reaction-gas recycle ratio on the selectivity for hydrocarbons (HCs), including long-chain C₃₅₊ HCs, in the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over a supported industrial cobalt–silica gel catalyst have been studied. The synthesis parameters have been as follows: a pressure of 2.0 or 6.0 MPa, an H₂/CO ratio of 1–5, a recycle ratio of 2–6, a temperature of 150–240°C, and a gas hourly space velocity of 1000 h⁻¹. It has been shown that gas recycling provides thermal stability in the catalyst bed, significantly increases the yield of C₃₅₊ HCs, and makes it possible to control the group and fractional composition of the synthesis products.