Studies on the Role of Nitrogen in the Feed for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Under Fixed-Bed Reactor System

Abstract

In this study, Co/Al2O3 catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was prepared via slurry impregnation method and the catalyst was characterized by various techniques such as TPR, XRD, TGA and N-2 physisorption. To dissolve the wax, after-reaction catalyst was dewaxed using n-Hexane at 60 degrees C. The experiments were performed in a bench-scale fixed -bed reactor, under the reaction condition of 230 degrees C, 20 bar and feed volume ratio of H-2:CO:N-2 = 2:1:0.5-1.5. The methane selectivity and the ratio of olefin to paraffin among C-2-C-4 hydrocarbons were increased with higher contents of nitrogen in feed gas which result in higher partial pressure ratio of H-2 to CO, and also affect methane selectivity which has a significant role in increased CO conversion.