Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

Abstract

The Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is essentially a polymerization reaction — or perhaps better an oligomerization, since in most cases the average molecular weight of the product is not very high — where carbon-carbon bonds are formed between C atoms proceeding from carbon monoxide, under the influence of hydrogen and a metal catalyst, and with elimination of water. Without anticipating the detailed reaction mechanism, the main reaction of the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis may be formulated as:

$$n(CO + 2{H_2})\mathop \to \limits^{Cat} - {(C{H_2})_n} - + n{H_2}O$$

(9.1)

Depending on catalyst and reaction conditions, the products are linear hydrocarbons, oxygenated derivatives thereof, or mixtures of both. Usually, a wide range of molecules with different chain length, and with a molecular weight distribution characteristic for polymerization reactions, are formed.