Recognizing iso-olefins as paramount intermediates for optimum isoparaffins production via CO hydrogenation

Synthesizing 'high quality gasoline' from syngas via will be a sustainable and clean option to ensure energy security. Herein, we rationally prove a hypothetical phenomenon that can enhance isoparaffins in the FischerTropsch Synthesis (FTS) by employing iso-olefins as main intermediates. The experimental study comprised mass variation of 'Na' promoted 'Fe' with the addition of different zeolites as catalysts to convert syngas directly to gasoline ranged isoparaffins. The initial targets of olefins and iso-olefins were optimized over a the mesoporous SiO2 supporting Fe and Na phases. The iso-olefins were subsequently converted to isoparaffins over the zeolites. Among reactions investigated, the Fe-Na/SiO2 with (Fe = 20 wt%, and Na = 2 wt%) and HZSM-5(80) zeolite in the mass ratio of 1:2, stack in a dual bed configuration demonstrated highest selectivity for isoparaffins. A 53.5 % selectivity of isoparaffins was realized in 70.6 % selectivity for liquid hydrocarbons which represented a selectivity of 75.8 % of the total liquid hydrocarbons. The results from this work offer a new path into production and further studies focused on optimizing isoparaffins production from FTS reactions.

Automated summary

Synthesizing 'high quality gasoline' from syngas via Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) with the use of iso-olefins as intermediates has been proven to enhance the production of isoparaffins. The experimental study involved the addition of different zeolites as catalysts to convert syngas directly to isoparaffins. Among the reactions investigated, the Fe-Na/SiO2 with (Fe = 20 wt%, and Na = 2 wt%) and HZSM-5(80) zeolite in a dual bed configuration demonstrated the highest selectivity for isoparaffins. This study offers a new approach for the production and optimization of isoparaffins from FTS reactions.