Author :
Dabbagh, Hossein A.,Tau, Li-Min,Davis, Burtron H
Title of Article :
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: comparison of 14 C distributions when labeled alcohol is added to the synthesis gas
Title Of Periodical :
ENERGY
Descriptors :
Fisher-tropsch synthesis,Carbon-14 tracer study
Abstract :
Isotopic tracer studies show that alcohols initiate chain growth but do not propagate chain growth during Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. n-Alcohol initiation yields predominantly n- products. Alcohols also undergo direct hydrogenolysis to eliminate water and to produce the same carbon number hydrocarbons that are perdominately the alkane; this is in contrast to the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis from CO/H2 where the products below about C15 are predominately alkenes. The data indicate that (1) an alcohol intermediate acts to produce Fischer-Tropsch products in a reaction pathway that parallels another mechanism when alcohol is added to the reaction mixture or (2) alcohols are not significant intermediates in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with an iron catalyst.
