An Optimization Study of Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Using Commercial Cobalt Catalyst

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with a commercial cobalt catalyst (Albemarle) has been carried out under various combinations of two process parameters, viz. reaction pressure and GHSV (gas hourly space velocity) using synthesis gas with molar ratio of H₂/CO = 2. The optimum set of reaction parameters that yielded hydrocarbon product in the desired carbon number range of C₁₀-C₁₄ and chain growth probability factor of 0.62 was: pressure = 3 MPa, GHSV = 3600 h^-1 and temp = 493 K. In the pressure range of 1-2 MPa at lower GHSV of 1800 h^-1, products obtained were in the carbon number range of C₁₄-C₂₄. An analysis of the link between operating parameters and product distribution has also been given using alkyl mechanism of FT synthesis and Blyholder model for adsorption of CO on metal sites.