Kinetics and product distribution studies on ruthenium-promoted cobalt/alumina Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst

Hydrocarbon production rates and distributions on ruthenium promoted alumina supported cobalt Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalyst were studied by the concept of two superimposed Anderson-Schulz-Flory (ASF) distributions. The results indicated that the characterizing growth probabilities alpha(1) and alpha(2) were strongly dependent on reaction conditions. By increasing the H(2)/CO partial pressure ratios and reaction temperatures, deviation from normal ASF distribution decreases and the double-alpha-ASF distribution changes into a straight line. Based on the concept of double-alpha-ASF distribution, a useful rate equation for the production of hydrocarbons under industrial reaction conditions is obtained.