High-Performance Solutions for Fischer-Tropsch Reactions

Catacel’s solutions can provide better temperature control and increase productivity in gas-to-liquid reactions.

Exothermic gas-to-liquid or Fischer-Tropsch reactions require strict heat management and/or precise temperature control in order for the reaction to produce desired products at maximum efficiency and high yield. Catacel offers heat-exchanging catalytic materials using cobalt, iron, or precious metal catalysts.

• Materials can take the form of coated inserts that are placed in structured heat-exchanging reactors
• Alternatively, materials can take the form of coated metal foil fins that are arranged in heat exchange relationship with a cooling path, similar to the arrangement in Catacel’s SSR product for hydrogen production.
• Such reactor arrangements allow for very effective heat and temperature management in Fischer-Tropsch reactions.
• Catacel’s materials for GTL avoid the catalyst attrition issues associated with classic slurry-bed reactors because the catalyst is anchored to a foil surface in a fixed-bed configuration.

While GTL reactions are often run at pressures of 20-25 bar, Catacel has had success with operating GTL at low pressures as shown in a project done with the EERC (Energy and Environmental Research Center). Operating at low pressure allows GTL to be conveniently used in conjunction with small, low-cost biomass gasifiers to produce liquid fuel locally.