The use of gas-to-liquid technology (GTL)‎ to produce gasoline and diesel fuels

Abstract EN

The conversion of methane gas to synthesis gas (CO and H2) and then into clean liquid fuels via Fischer–Tropsch synthesis is investigated in the present work.

The effects of the catalyst type, pretreatment conditions, and process temperature on the catalysts activity and selectivity are investigated.

The syngas production and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis were carried out in two catalytic units connected in series.

The first one contains a fixed bed reactor of 128 cm3, while the second fixed bed reactor is of 68 cm3.

The results of syngas production over the prepared (Pt / HY) catalyst showed excellent resistance to carbon deposition and stable performance during 20 h-on-stream at 700oC.

The Fischer–Tropsch synthesis was carried out under different temperatures of 220, 230, 240, 250, 260 and 270oC and constant atmospheric pressure.

The results showed that the catalytic synthesis leads to a wide variety of products such as gasoline, diesel and waxes.

It was concluded that the best operating temperature for all Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is 240oC, where, this temperature gives the highest hydrocarbons production for diesel and gasoline.

The results indicate that the Cu-Co / Al2O3 was the most active and selective catalyst in the Fischer-Tropsch process which gives the excellent production of the desired products.

In addition, this process shows a great potential for economical production of GTL fuels in Iraq at low costs.