Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

The fischer-tropsch synthesis can be employed to produce synthetic gasoline, among

other hydrocarbons. while the overall fischer-tropsch process generates a mixture of
hydrocarbons both saturated and unsaturated, subsequent refining steps such as
fractional distillation is applied to upgrade and tailor the product distribution,
emphasizing the production of fuels like gasoline which is used as fuel.

In this method raw material is hard coke and which is converted into water gas by
passing steam over red hot coke.

Metal catalysts are used to facilitate the fischer-tropsch reaction. Cobalt and iron are
common catalysts for this process. The choice of catalyst influences the product
distribution

Chemical reaction
nCO +2nH2 CnH2n + nH2O
nCO + (2n+1)H2 CnH2n+2 + nH2O
• Q.Why Fe is used as catalyst mostly?

note: the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a

heterogenous reaction because the reactant
(CO+H2) are in gaseous phase and catalyst are in
solid phase.
Steps involved in chemical reaction
1. Adsoption of CO and splitting
2. Adsoption of H2 and splitting
3. 2H + O H2O + Heat
4. 2H + C CH2 ( CH2-CH2-CH2 ) +
.......................................................nH2O + Heat
Mechanism
• The synthesis of gasoline
1. a mixture of (CO+H2) with excess of hydrogen is
passed through the purification chamber
2. The iron oxide and mixture of Fe2O3 + Na2CO3
containing Chambers remove the Sulphur and
sulphur compound
3. A mixture after removal of Sulphur and its
compounds are forced to catalyst chamber
4. At a temperature of about 150-300 degree
centigrade reaction takes place to form saturated
and unsaturated hydrocarbons reaction are
exothermic and products are lead to the cooler