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Chemical Technology • August 2016
I
n recent times, strict regulations and policies on envi-
ronment to reduce environmental pollution and degra-
dation are constantly being formed and implemented.
Therefore, diversification of sources of fossil fuels, the
major sources of environmental pollution, and the utilisa-
tion of stranded gas have re-awakened global interest in
Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis. Synthetic liquid fuels, major
products of F-T synthesis, have a very low content of sulphur
and aromatic compounds compared to fossil fuels and
are thus preferred as clean fuels for a clean environment.
Besides the environmental concerns, abundant reserves of
natural gas in many parts of the world have ignited global
interest in F-T synthesis and new plants based on F-T syn-
thesis technology are now commissioned periodically [1].
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a surface-catalysed poly-
merisation reaction that involves conversion of synthesis
gas (CO and H
2
) derived from coal, natural gas, heavy oil or
biomass into hydrocarbons consisting of paraffins, olefins,
alcohols and aldehydes. Production of the syngas from coal,
natural gas, heavy oil or biomass could be through steam
reforming (for natural gas) and gasification (for coal, oil and
biomass). The long-chain linear paraffins obtained from F-T
synthesis are cracked further into short-chain hydrocarbons
in fluidised-bed catalytic cracking (FCC) units [2]. In addition,
recent developments in the design of process-intensified
bi-functional Co-based catalysts, that could combine F-T
A catalytic membrane reactor
for mitigating water-induced catalyst
deactivation in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis
by Michael O Daramola, PhD, CEng, MIChemE, School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis is a surface-catalysed polymerisation reaction
that involves conversion of synthesis gas (CO and H
2
) derived from coal, natural
gas, heavy oil or biomass into hydrocarbons. In this article, a catalytic membrane
reactor is proposed for mitigating the effect of water-induced deactivation of F-T
catalyst during synthesis.
PETROCHEMICALS