Intrinsic kinetics of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on a cobalt catalyst

Abstract

The rate of synthesis gas consumption over a cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalyst was measured in a well-mixed, continuous-flow, slurry reactor at 220-240 o C, 0.5-1.5 MPa, H 2 /CO feed ratios of 1.5-3.5, and conversions of 6-68% of hydrogen and 11-73% of carbon monoxide. The inhibiting effect of carbon monoxide was determined quantitatively and a Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type equation of the following form was found to best represent the results: −R H2+CO =aP CO P H2 /(1+bP CO ) 2 . The apparent activation energy was 93-95 kJ/mol. Data from previous studies on cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch catalysts are also well correlated with this rate expression