Improving the Selectivity to Liquefied Petroleum Gas by Combining Fischer‐Tropsch Synthesis with Zeolite Cracking

Abstract

AbstractThe Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is a heterogeneously catalyzed surface polymerization reaction with a wide spectrum of hydrocarbons as products, following the Anderson‐Schulz‐Flory distribution. Subsequent cracking of the unwanted long‐chain products can increase the desired product fraction of shorter hydrocarbons (HCs). In this work, a Co/Mn‐catalyzed FTS with additional cracking by a Pt/H‐ZSM‐5 zeolite was investigated to increase the selectivity of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). At lower zeolite temperatures, no cracking but isomerization and the conversion of alcohols took place. Raising the temperature of the cracking process resulted in cracking of long‐chain HCs and increased the total LPG selectivity. Additional experiments by cracking of n‐hexadecane as model substance were conducted.