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Kinetic modelling of the catalytic conversion of synthesis gas
Author(s) -
Simard F.,
Mahay A.,
Jean G.,
Delasa H.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450690412
Subject(s) - catalysis , methanol , chemistry , syngas , water gas shift reaction , fugacity , bifunctional , thermodynamics , gasoline , kinetic energy , water gas , reaction rate , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
A kinetic study for the one‐step conversion of synthesis gas to gasoline on a ZnO–Cr 2 O 3 –ZSM‐5 catalyst is described. On this catalyst, three reactions are involved in the overall transformation of synthesis gas: the methanol synthesis, the conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons and the water–gas shift reaction. Under the operating conditions selected for the study, it was found that the water–gas shift was at equilibrium and the methanol was completely converted to hydrocarbons. Consequently, it was postulated that the kinetics of the limiting reaction step, the methanol synthesis on the ZnO–Cr 2 O 3 component, was the one that controls the overall reaction rate. Three kinetic model equations describing the rate of synthesis gas conversion on the bifunctional catalyst, were considered to fit the data of the experimental runs performed in a Berty well‐mixed reactor. Those equations were derived under very special conditions where the methanol decomposition term could be neglected. It was also observed that in the kinetic equations a term involving the fugacity of CO 2 was required to predict the rate properly. The catalyst deactivation was also taken into account in the analysis.