Fischer-Tropsch+process

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7120/full/444677a.html · Who discovered/developed this processes? - Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch were scientists at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute. Their process was used to replace petroleum in Germany during WWII because they were running short. Germany and Japan both used this process after its discovey during the second World War. · How did they come across this? Germany was running low on petroleum during the second World War yet they had excessive coal. Fischer and Tropsch made a goal to find another form of fuel for the German nation. They used the coal which was later used in Japan and later throughout the world. It has not been slightly improved and is used for diesel gasoline. http://www.eoearth.org/article/Fischer,_Franz

. What does this process produce? - Synthesis diesel gasoline. This type of synthetic fuel burns cleanly which is good for the environment. The process converts carbon monoxide and hydrogen into liquid hydrocarbon which makes jet fuels and synthesis diesel.

· Why is the production of the product necessary? -Without the production, Carbon Monoxide would never be converted to hydrocarbons and the diesel gasoline would never be produced. It was very necessary in Germany and later Japan when the countries were running out of petroleum.

· What is the product used for? -Automobiles, engines, to power things. It is a fuel. Chemical Equations used in the refining process (Synthesis Gas) CHn + O2 --> 1/2n H2 + CO

(Fischer-Tropsch Reaction) 2n H2 + CO --> -(Ch2-)n+ H2O

= Importance to Industry: = The process is used in industry because it has many benefits. This process minimizes the dependence on foreign oil, creating a high demand for the fuels it produces. The military alone uses 8 billion gallons of the fuel produced, proving that utilizing this process holds high profit.The process requires temperatures of 150-300 degrees celsius for the chemical reaction. High pressure of about 20-30bar is most preferable, though the cost sometimes outweighs to benefits so industries sometimes only apply 5-60bar.

** Process: **
Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide are used to create hydrocarbon based fuels. There are three major steps: 1- Combine a source of carbon(coal/natural gas) with a source of oxygen(air) to produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen 2- Combine the carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a fischer-tropsch catalyst(cobalt, iron, ruthenium) to produce a hydrocarbon and water 3- Involves the isomerization of the hydrocarbons with breaks up long chains and turns them into products like deisel and gasoline.


 * Where in industry is this process used?**
 * · Synthetic fuel
 * · Both diesel and gasoline
 * · Used as part of a mix in jet fuel
 * USAF plans to certify all jets for this fuel by 2011
 * · Sasol
 * South African company
 * Used because of large coal reserves but few oil reserves.
 * · Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis
 * Malaysia
 * Natural gas => low sulfur diesel fuels and food-grade wax
 * · Syntroleum
 * US company working with USAF to develop synthetic jet fuel blend to decrease USAF dependency on imported petroleum


 * · Are there any other processes that can be used?**
 * Syntroleum process
 * Specializes in coal-to-liquid and gas-to-liquid
 * Gas-to-liquid
 * Use air instead of oxygen to produce synthesis gas from natural gas
 * Bergius process
 * Also create synthetic fuel
 * Algae fuel
 * Also creates bio fuel

· **Which process is more efficient? Why?**
 * The FT process.
 * Syntroleum is simply a branch off FT.
 * FT encompasses an additional method.
 * Bergius process is no longer actively used in the world’s industries.
 * Algae fuel is still far too expensive to produce.
 * FT process is growing more competitive economically due to rising gas prices and advancements in technology.


 * When was this process first discovered?**
 * It was discovered 1920s, Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch.
 * Both were working at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute.
 * Germany.


 * · Has it been refined/modified with the advances in technology/science?**
 * Yes, now refers to a wide variety of similar processes.
 * Fischer Tropsch synthesis/chemistry.
 * Also used for diesel fuel synthesis.
 * Further development in the area of bio-to-liquid technologies.
 * Waste such as biomass could be used as a synthetic fuel.
 * Companies dedicated solely to the creation of synthetic fuel have helped the usually expensive FT process become more competitive.
 * Started as coal-to-liquid.
 * Now includes gas-to-liquid and bio-to-liquid.


 * · When did it become used in the industrial setting?**
 * Nazi Germany.
 * Country was very poor in petroleum but rich in coal, used F-T process to produce fuel for war machines/vehicles.
 * Also used in Japan during WWII.
 * More recently used in South Africa.
 * During late 1900s.
 * Used due to economic isolation, which restricted import of necessary natural resources for typical fuel sources.

Fischer-Tropsch Process Technology

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Citation for picture in works cited: http://www.mpg.de/bilderBerichteDokumente/dokumentation/pressemitteilungen/2005/pressemitteilung200512141/index.html