Selective Production of C 4 Hydrocarbons from Syngas Using Fe‐Co/ZrO 2 and SO 4 2— /ZrO 2 Catalysts

Modified Fischer‐Tropsch (MFT) syntheses were carried out to convert synthesis gas to C 4 hydrocarbons over Fe‐Co/ZrO 2 (FT) and SO 4 2— /ZrO 2 (SZ) catalysts in a dual reactor system, keeping the FT to SZ catalysts ratio at 1:1.5. Five Fe‐Co/ZrO 2 catalysts with different Fe and Co loading, and SZ with 15 wt% SO 4 2— were prepared and extensively characterized using various physico‐chemical methods. The FT synthesis process was initially performed using a Fe‐Co/ZrO 2 catalyst in a single reactor and the effects of Fe and Co mass ratio, reaction temperature, space velocity on the production of C 4 hydrocarbons and C 2 ‐C 4 olefins were investigated. Results indicated that a 3.71% Fe—8.76% Co/ZrO 2 mixed oxide catalyst alone at 260°C and 5 h —1 gave high selectivities of C 2 ‐C 4 olefins (∼26.1 wt%) and total C 4 hydrocarbon product (∼16.2 wt%). The MFT process 150°C gave higher C 4 (∼31.6 wt%), isobutane (∼22.9 wt%) and C 2 ‐C 4 (31.1 wt%) selectivities.