Project

Intro:

Gas to liquids (GTL) is a refinery process to convert

natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons into
longer-chain hydrocarbons such as gasoline or diesel
fuel.

Natural gas reforming is an advanced and mature production

process that builds upon the existing natural gas pipeline delivery
infrastructure. Today, 95% of the hydrogen produced in the United
States is made by natural gas reforming in large central plants.
This is an important technology pathway for near-term hydrogen
production.
Natural gas contains methane (CH4) that can be used to produce
hydrogen with thermal processes, such as steam-methane
reformation
Most hydrogen produced today in the United States is made via
steam-methane reforming, a mature production process in which
high-temperature steam (700C1,000C) is used to produce
hydrogen from a methane source, such as natural gas. In steammethane reforming, methane reacts with steam under 325 bar
pressure (1 bar = 14.5 psi) in the presence of a catalyst to
produce hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and a relatively small
amount of carbon dioxide. Steam reforming is endothermicthat
is, heat must be supplied to the process for the reaction to
proceed.
Subsequently, in what is called the "water-gas shift reaction," the
carbon monoxide and steam are reacted using a catalyst to

produce carbon dioxide and more hydrogen. In a final process

step called "pressure-swing adsorption," carbon dioxide and other
impurities are removed from the gas stream, leaving essentially
pure hydrogen. Steam reforming can also be used to produce
hydrogen from other fuels, such as ethanol, propane, or even
gasoline.
Steam-methane reforming reaction
CH4 + H2O (+ heat) CO + 3H2
Water-gas shift reaction
CO + H2O CO2 + H2 (+ small amount of heat)

In a process known as steam reforming, the chemical bonds of methane are

broken down by steam, heat, and a nickel-based catalyst to produce synthesis

Conclusion

G-T-L processes produce clean, premium-quality liquid fuels with highly

desirable properties for reducing automotive emissions

While FischerTropsch based GTL is a technologically feasible option for

diversifying natural gas monetization opportunities, its implementation on a
scale large enough to impact the hegemony of oil-derived liquid fuels in global
transport markets is undermined by significant economic, and to a lesser
extent commercial, constraints

G-T-L distillates have several highly desirable properties for reducing diesel
emissions:

high cetane numbers of 70 to 76,

negligible sulfur content,

very low aromatic content,

high mono- to poly-nuclear aromatics ratio, and

low density.

The clean-burning, high-quality characteristics of GTL diesel fuels lend

support to this outlook, seemingly offering a viable substitute to oil-derived
diesel in the global transport sector. However, doubts over the long- term
viability of large-capacity GTL projects in the absence of heavily subsidized
gas feedstock prices leads to an alternative narrative, suggesting that GTL
products will have only a limited impact in the global transport sector by
virtue of the industrys unsustainable growth potential.

in order to supply strategic GTL products in existing oil markets

and in response to the worldwide trend of strict environmental

restrictions on emissions, GTL technology still requires the
following improvements:
Reduction of construction and operation costs for a GTL
plant,
Enhancement of energy efficiency, and
Reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. As the GTL industry itself adapts
to developments in natural gas supply, it will rationally seek smaller and more
dispersed GTL options that carry a limited capacity to deliver liquid fuels to transport
markets.