Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.89, No.6, 1441-1450, 2011
KINETICS STUDY ON CNT-SUPPORTED RUKCO FTS CATALYST IN A FIXED BED REACTOR
The rate of syngas (H(2)/CO) consumption over a RuKCo/CNT Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalyst was measured in a fixed bed microreactor at 210-225 degrees C, 2-3.5 MPa, H(2)/CO feed molar ratios of 1-2.5, and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) range of 2700- 3600 h(-1). The data have been used to model the kinetics of the FTS reactions within the range of the studied conditions. One empirical power law model and four semi-empirical kinetic models based on Langmuir-Hinshelwood-type equation have been evaluated. The best fitting was obtained with the equation: -r(H2)+CO = 18.5 x 10(-5)P(H2)(0.39)/(1 + 7.2 x 10(-2)P(CO)(0.72)P(H2)(0.1))(2) similar to that proposed by Brotz et al. The estimated activation energy (E = 80-85 kJ/mol) is lower than that is reported in the literature. The validity of these results are restricted to fixed beds with the given catalyst in the tested conversion regime.