TRANSPORTASI &

PEMANFAATAN GAS BUMI

GAS TO LIQUID (GTL)

FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
Kelompok IV

Zenda Christian Adhitama

Aep Riyadi
Goffar Utomo
Ragil Priyanto

May 30, 2023

FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Overview
• The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process, originally developed by Franz
Fischer and Hans Tropsch in early 1920s, is a series of chemical
reactions that involve the conversion of hydrogen and carbon
monoxide into liquid hydrocarbons by using a catalyst (iron, cobalt,
nickel or ruthenium).
• Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) fuels may be produced from natural gas
using a Fischer- Tropsch chemical reaction process. The liquids
produced include diesel, naphtha, and chemical feedstocks. GTL
diesel can be used as neat or blended with today’s diesel fuel in
existing diesel engines. These fuels provide an opportunity to
reduce dependence on petroleum-based fuels and reduce tailpipe
emissions. GTL fuel has virtually no sulfur, aromatics, or toxics. It
can be blended with non-complying diesel fuel to make the fuel
cleaner so it will comply with new diesel fuel standards.

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Why need synthetic fuels?
• To substitute to petroleum fuels
• Can be manufactured using infrastructure of
petroleum-based fuels
• As ultra-clean fuels: near-zero sulfur and
aromatic contents, high cetane number
but
Need chemical conversions

Source: Sasol, modified

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Feedstock of liquids (synthetic fuels and chemicals)

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Source: Sasol, modified
FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Indirect process conversion to synthetic fuels + chemicals (through syngas)

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Direct process conversion to synthetic fuels + chemicals

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Gas to synthetic crude oil
A generalized layout for the production of a synthetic crude oil (syncrude) from natural gas is illustrated
in figure below

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Syngas Production

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
FT Reaction

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
FT Reaction

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Reactan Performance

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Reactant Performance

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Performance Impact

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FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
(MTG)
Catalyst Comparison

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 GTL THE FISCHER TROPSCH PROCESS

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THE FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
Introduction

• The critical issue for FT process is the removal of reaction heat and handling
the concomitant volume contraction
• During World War II, the scientist in Germany already developed way forward
many reactors (near commercial scale) as follow:
• Multitubular Fixed Bed (MTFB)
Large number of small tubes with containing catalyst. Boiling pressurized water to carry away
the reaction heat surrounds the tube
• High Gas Recycle/Fixed Bed
A thin bed of catalyst is used with low pass conversion. After cooling and separation of the
condensable products, large volumes of the unreacted gas are recycled (the recycled ratio is
>10)
• Entrained Bed
The catalyst bed is moved around a loop by a large flow of gas. Sections of the loop are cooled
to remove the reaction heat
• Fluidized Bed
The catalyst bed if fluidized by up-flowing reactant gas. Agitation of the catalyst with gas
ensures effective heat transfer of the reaction heat from the catalyst
• Slurry Bed
The catalyst is held within a liquid slurry, which absorbs the reaction heat and transfers the heat-
to-heat exchange equipment within the reactor
16
Sourced from Fischer – Tropsch Process | Biofuels Academy
THE FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
German World War II Technology

• Table 10-1 gives the location and years of operation of

FT plants controlled by Germany and its allies up to
the end of WWII
• Commercial production started in 1938, however, in
Germany is effectively ceased in 1944 as a
consequence of strategic bombing
• They all used MTFB reactors, cobalt as catalyst and
coal as primary feedstock
• The main thrust of The German Technology was to
maximize the use of the very high quality straight run
diesel (Cetane Number >90)

17
Sourced from Gas Usage – Duncan & Seddon
THE FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
South African Commercial Operations
• After the WWII, most major developments were conducted in South Africa, Tabel 10-2 summaries
the commercial operations
• Sasolburg is the world’s largest scale implementation of FT technology which operated by Sasol and
opened in 1952
• Sasol uses coal and natural gas as feedstocks and produces a variety of synthetic petroleum products
(mostly diesel fuel)

18
Sourced from Gas Usage – Duncan & Seddon & wikipedia
THE FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
South African Commercial Operations – The ARGE Process

• First initiated by join effort called German Aitkengesellschaft of Lurgi and Ruhrchemie in 1954 by
changing the operating variables and catalyst formulation (iron based)
• This process is the best-known method of production of waxes and distillate with alfa value greater
than 0.8
• Early commercial activity used thermal cracking of wax to produce more distillate, whilst today
process is optimized to produce wax, which is refined and sold as specialty chemical

19
Sourced from Gas Usage – Duncan & Seddon
THE FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
South African Commercial Operations – The SYNTHOL Process
• SYNTHOL is development of a Kellog entrained-bed process which best for production of light
producst (gasoline) and operates with alfa value below 0.75
• The operation involves the production of an olefin-rich product in very large entrained-bed reactors
• Key features:
• Generate a large quantity of methane. Beneficial if use coal as feedstock, but if use natural gas, then shall be
returned to the natural gas oxidation plant or the reformer
• Produces significant amount of product in the range of 160 oC-350oC and CN at 55
• Gasoline quality is poor (RON at 60) and require further refining process
• Large quantity of water-soluble products (acids, esters, and ethers), thus require pretreatment before disposal

• SYNTHOL route balances a poor innate carbon efficiency against a relatively rich olefin stream
product. The olefin stream product is comprised of 86% olefins in C3 and C4 (24% from total
products)
20
Sourced from Gas Usage – Duncan & Seddon
THE FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
Other Commercial Operations
• Shell MDS
Located at Bintulu in Malysia which commenced in 1995 and similar to ARGE, with the exception of a
cobalt catalyst. Natural gas is turned into Syn Gas by partial oxidation, then FT process produces a
heavy wax that will be hydrocracked into middle distillates
• Standard Oil
Standard oil operated a very large scale demonstration project at Brownsville in TX between 1955 and
1959. The plant was gas based and utilize partial oxidation to produce SYN GAS and use FT process
by a large fluid-bed reactor and iron and or cobalt catalyst. The majority produced product was gasoline

21
Sourced from Gas Usage – Duncan & Seddon, Shell MDS
THE FISCHER-TROPSCH PROCESS
Under Developments
• Slurry Reactors
Has been knowns in 1940s, it offers the potential of producing heavier distillates and wax at higher productivity and relatively
smaller than MTFB based on its size-weight-cost
• The BP-Arco Process
Being demonstrated on 300 bbl/d pilot unit at Nikski in Alaska. The difference is using compact reformer that easier to modularize
and has a lower overall weight and cost compared with the conventional one
• Sasol Chevron
FT from Sasol tech whilst GTL from Chevron tech were combined as JT
• Exxon AGC-21
Use catalytic partial oxidation/steam reforming unit and employ fluidized based system to adjust SR
• Syntroleum
Uses air-based autothermal reforming to produced SYN Gas diluted with Nitrogen. Utilized cobalt catalyst and catalyzed slurry
reactor to produce product.
22
Sourced from Gas Usage – Duncan & Seddon
 MAXIMIZING
DIESEL

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DISTILLATE DIESEL VIA OLEFIN
• Distilat diesel melalui olefin adalah proses di mana distilat diesel yang dihasilkan dari fraksi
minyak bumi yang lebih berat diubah menjadi olefin, yang kemudian dapat digunakan sebagai
bahan baku untuk produksi bermacam-macam produk kimia.
• Proses distilasi adalah metode utama yang digunakan untuk memisahkan minyak mentah
menjadi berbagai fraksi berbeda berdasarkan titik didihnya. Distilat diesel adalah salah satu
fraksi yang diperoleh dari proses distilasi ini.
• Karena sifatnya yang unggul, banyak strategi konversi gas cenderung berkutat pada produksi
motor diesel (distilasi) ketimbang bensin. Permintaan untuk menghasilkan distilat atau produk
kaya distilat dari pabrik bahan bakar sintetik dipandang sebagai penggerak pasar daripadat
eknis.

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DISTILLATE DIESEL VIA WAX CRACKING
• Distillate diesel dapat diubah menjadi olefin melalui proses cracking lilin (wax cracking). Proses
ini melibatkan pemecahan molekul-molekul yang lebih besar dalam distillate diesel menjadi
molekul-molekul yang lebih kecil, termasuk olefin.
• Proses cracking lilin memiliki beberapa keuntungan. Pertama, itu memungkinkan penggunaan
distillate diesel yang mengandung lilin yang sebelumnya mungkin tidak memiliki nilai ekonomi
yang tinggi. Kedua, mengubah distillate diesel menjadi olefin melalui cracking lilin dapat
membantu dalam produksi olefin yang diperlukan untuk industri petrokimia.
• Namun, perlu dicatat bahwa proses cracking lilin juga kompleks dan memerlukan pengendalian
suhu, waktu reaksi, dan penggunaan katalis yang tepat untuk mencapai hasil yang diinginkan.
Selain itu, pemantauan yang ketat diperlukan untuk memastikan efisiensi dan keberlanjutan
operasi.

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 Insert Image

FT PRODUCT AND REFINERY CUT POINTS

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 PRODUCT MADE BY THE FT-PROCESS

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PRODUCT MADE BY FT PROCESS
Transport Fuels
• High API gravity (low density).
• Sulfur concentration around 40 ppm (measured by IP
Method 336). Other methods indicate that the sulfur
content of the crude is extremely low (< 10 ppm).
The levels quoted in these tables probably represent
maximum values.
• Being rich in linear paraffins, is very waxy and has a
high pour point (> 42ºC). In other words, it is solid at
Table 1. Properties of a Typical FT Syncrude room temperature.
• High acid number (> 1.4)  presence of some acids
Note: Produced on a MTFB reactor operating at an alpha value of
0.84 (carboxylic acids) formed as by-products in the
process. High synthesis temperatures tend to favor
more oxygenates, such as alcohols and carboxylic
acids, in the product
• Although solid at room temperature, once melted, the
syncrude is a free-flowing, low-viscosity clear liquid
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PRODUCT MADE BY FT PROCESS
Gasoline
• The straight-run gasoline yield is 43% of the
syncrude.
• Sulfur is very low, around 50 ppm (measured by IP
Method 336).
• Has a very low research octane number (RON). It
can be improved by isomerization and reforming the
naphtha fraction.
• Straight-run gasoline produced by methods operating
at a higher temperature and lower alpha value (e.g.,
Synthol) has higher octane as a consequence of
Table 2. Properties of FT Gasoline higher olefin content (RON 50)
Note: Produced on a MTFB reactor operating at an alpha value of • Additional gasoline can be produced by
0.84
oligomerization of light olefins (propylene, butene,
and pentene)  South African Synthol
• Cracking heavier fractions can also make gasoline.

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PRODUCT MADE BY FT PROCESS
Motor diesel fuel

• The lower b.p. range (1960C–2320C) corresponds to

a kerosene (typical jet fuel). The yield on the
syncrude is about 11%.
• The higher boiling range (2320C–3160C)
corresponds to a motor diesel fraction. The yield on
the syncrude is 18%.
• Both have high API gravity (low density).
• Low sulfur content (<50 ppm)
• Has a very high cetane as represented by the diesel Table 2. Properties of FT straight run distillates
Note: Produced on a MTFB reactor operating at an alpha value of
index, typically over 70  basis for the attraction 0.84

of FT diesel • Density of the FT-diesel is very low, lower than the

• FT diesel is more interest as a blendstock for higher acceptable level in the new clean fuel standards being
density (non specification) fuels than as a fuel in its introduced
31 own right
PRODUCT MADE BY FT PROCESS
Motor diesel fuel
Adding Value of GTL products

32 Source: C. Brown, 2013

PRODUCT MADE BY FT PROCESS
Motor diesel fuel
Comparison of conventional and synthetic fuels

33 Source: Dieterich et al, 2021

PRODUCT MADE BY FT PROCESS
Motor diesel fuel
FT Diesel Properties

34 Source : Morita, 2001

PRODUCT MADE BY FT PROCESS
Blend Stock Opportunities

35 Source: C. Brown, 2013

PRODUCT MADE BY FT PROCESS
Chemical

• ALCOHOLS AND DERIVATIVES. There are a wide variety of processes that fall under the banner of FT processes
that produce alcohols as the major products. These can be shortchain alcohols, particularly butanols, as well as longer
chain alcohols. Butanol synthesis has been used in the past
• OLEFINS. Operating with a low hydrogen concentration in the synthesis gas promotes the formation of alpha olefins.
Using low-temperature synthesis such as ARGE gives higher olefins with a high degree of linearity. Such olefins are
sought after for linear alcohol production.
• LINEAR PARAFFINS. The products from the ARGE type of process are paraffins of high linearity. These can be
extracted and used as solvents or chemical feedstocks (e.g., linear alkylbenzenes, LAB).
• WAXES. The ARGE process can produce paraffin waxes of very high linearity. These materials are highly marketable.
Both the ARGE operations in South Africa and the Shell operations in Bintulu extract and refine wax products.
• LUBRICATING OILS. Extensive isomerization of the heavier diesel and wax fractions produces high molecular
weight, highly branched paraffins, with negligible sulfur content. These have beneficial properties as lubricant basestocks
(so-called Group 3 basestock). Some proposed GTL schemes have targeted this as a major product
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TERIMA KASIH