Kinetic Model of Product Distribution over Fe Catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

A new kinetic model of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is proposed to describe the non-Anderson-Schulz-Flory (ASF) product distribution. The model is based on the double-polymerization monomers hypothesis, in which the surface C-2* species acts as a chain-growth monomer in the light-product range, while C-2* species acts as a chain-growth monomer in the heavy-product range. The detailed kinetic model in the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson type based on the elementary reactions is derived for FTS and the water-gas-shift reaction. Kinetic model candidates are evaluated by minimization of multiresponse objective functions with a genetic algorithm approach. The model of hydrocarbon product distribution is consistent with experimental data (< C-45). The new model gives a sound interpretation of the experimental data.