Advances in Selectivity Control for Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis to Fuels and Chemicals with High Carbon Efficiency

Abstract

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is a versatile technology to produce high-quality fuels and key building-block chemicals from syngas derived from nonpetroleum carbon resources such as coal, natural gas, shale gas, biomass, solid waste, and even CO2. However, the product selectivity of FTS is always limited by the Anderson–Schulz–Flory (ASF) distribution, and the key scientific problems including selectivity control, energy saving, and CO2 emission reduction still challenge the current FTS technology. Herein, we review recent significant progress in the field of FTS to obtain specific target products including fuels, olefins, aromatics, and higher alcohols with high selectivity. These achievements are enabled by developing highly efficient catalysts and a controlled reaction pathway based on an integrated process. The structural nature of catalytic active sites and established structure–performance relationships are clarified. Moreover, we specially focus on the carbon utilization efficiency, and the efforts to tune the preferential formation of value-added chemicals and strategies to reduce CO2 selectivity are summarized. The challenges and the perspectives for future FTS technology development with high carbon efficiency are also discussed.

Pulsed Photothermal Heterogeneous Catalysis

“…Through a number of model kinetic scenarios, as well as a realistic scenario of Ptcatalyzed CO oxidation, we have highlighted how the use of pulsed light results in a favorable, non-steady-state mode of operation that offers several distinct advantages: higher energy efficiency, higher turnover per site than for any steady-state temperature, operation at room temperature, robustness against catalyst poisons, and access to surface coverages of reagents that are markedly different from steady-state operation. Since reagent surface coverages are intimately related to reaction selectivity, we also predict that pulsed light can potentially result in control over the product distribution in more complex reactions, such as CO 2 hydrogenation, 56 Fischer−Tropsch synthesis, 57 or CH 4 pyrolysis. 6 However, we also consistently emphasize that all of these benefits are highly situational and strongly depend on the pulse width, pulse energy density, interparticle distance, and the potential energy landscape of the reaction.…”

Oxide Supported Cobalt Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to Hydrocarbons: Recent Progress

“…[ 5 ] The second site, most likely a carbide, although it has been proposed to work also with Co δ+ /Co 2+ , is necessary for the non‐dissociative adsorption and insertion of CO. [ 5 ] However, the fabrication of stable dual site structures remains a challenge. [ 5 ]…”

Identifying the Performance Descriptor in Direct Syngas Conversion to Long-Chain α-Olefins over Ruthenium-Based Catalysts Promoted by Alkali Metals

“…Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) provides an important platform technology to produce various fuels and chemicals from syngas (a mixture of H 2 and CO) derived from readily available carbon resources, such as coal, natural gas, biomass, shale gas, solid waste, and even CO 2 . 6,7 The direct synthesis of olefins via FTS is also called Fischer-Tropsch to olefins (FTO). 8,9 The selectivity of olefins with a certain range of carbon number is always limited by the Anderson-Schulz-Flory (ASF) product distribution due to the surface polymerization mechanism, and the C1 byproduct (CH 4 and CO 2 ) yield is always relatively high (>30%), which decreases the carbon efficiency of the FTO technology.…”

“…Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) provides an important platform technology to produce various fuels and chemicals from syngas (a mixture of H 2 and CO) derived from readily available carbon resources, such as coal, natural gas, biomass, shale gas, solid waste, and even CO 2 . , The direct synthesis of olefins via FTS is also called Fischer-Tropsch to olefins (FTO). , The selectivity of olefins with a certain range of carbon number is always limited by the Anderson-Schulz-Flory (ASF) product distribution due to the surface polymerization mechanism, and the C1 byproduct (CH 4 and CO 2 ) yield is always relatively high (>30%), which decreases the carbon efficiency of the FTO technology. , Recently, great progress has been achieved in the production of α-olefins over Fe-based and Co-based catalysts. − Xu et al presented a hydrophobic core–shell FeMn@Si catalyst with 68.2% α-olefin selectivity and less than 22.5% C1 byproduct selectivity . Gong et al reported that graphene-like carbon-confined metallic Co (Co@C) exhibited an excellent performance for the FTO reaction with 56.4% olefin selectivity, and the CO 2 selectivity was also suppressed within 6% .…”