Find in Library

A plasma-synthesized cobalt catalyst supported on carbon (Co/C) was tested for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) in a 3-phase continuously-stirred tank slurry reactor (3-φ-CSTSR) operated isothermally at 220 °C (493 K), and 2 MPa pressure. Initial syngas feed stream of H2:CO ratio = 2 with molar composition of 0.6 L/L (60 vol %) H2 and 0.3 L/L (30 vol %) CO, balanced in 0.1 L/L (10 vol %) Ar was used, flowing at hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 3600 cm3·h−1·g−1 of catalyst. Similarly, other syngas feed compositions of H2:CO ratio = 1.5 and 1.0 were used. Results showed ~40% CO conversion with early catalyst selectivity inclined towards formation of gasoline (C4–C12) and diesel (C13–C20) fractions. With prolonged time-on-stream (TOS), catalyst selectivity escalated towards the heavier molecular-weight fractions such as waxes (C21+). The catalyst’s α-value, which signifies the probability of the hydrocarbon chain growth was empirically determined to be in the range of 0.85–0.87 (at H2:CO ratio = 2), demonstrating prevalence of the hydrocarbon-chain propagation, with particular predisposition for wax production. The inhibiting CO effect towards FTS was noted at molar H2:CO ratio of 1.0 and 1.5, giving only ~10% and ~20% CO conversion respectively, although with a high α-value of 0.93 in both cases, which showed predominant production of the heavier molecular weight fractions.