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Selectivity effects and hydrocarbon‐chain growth during Fischer–Tropsch synthesis
Author(s) -
Collis F. P.,
Schwarz J. A.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of computational chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.907
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1096-987X
pISSN - 0192-8651
DOI - 10.1002/jcc.540030204
Subject(s) - selectivity , fischer–tropsch process , hydrocarbon , condensation , chemistry , catalysis , polymerization , product distribution , chain termination , computational chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , polymer , radical polymerization , physics , engineering
It is well known that if the formation of hydrocarbons during Fischer–Tropsch synthesis occurs via the condensation polymerization mechanism, there is little hope for selectivity enhancement in the desired range of products. Recent data on low surface area model catalysts, where readsorption is unlikely, have shown that at low conversions, the product distribution obeys the condensation polymerization mechanism and the distribution of products is shifted to lower‐molecular‐weight hydrocarbons. We have used a computer simulation of the growth of hydrocarbon chains to obtain a picture of the catalyst surface under synthesis conditions. Such an approach could prove useful in distinguishing between various theoretical models. We have applied the simulation to compare the changes in selectivity when readsorption occurs and when it does not. The dynamic behavior of the reacting system which is obtained from the computer results has shown that selectivity to lower‐molecular‐weight hydrocarbons is a stronger function of the extent of reaction than the incorporation of readsorption into the chain growth mechanism.