Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Comparison of performances of iron and cobalt catalysts

Biomass represents a source of syngas that can be further processed to hydrocarbon fuels. This paper examines the Fischer-Tropsch technology for the biomass-to-clean fuels scenario. A comparison of the activities, selectivities, and lifetimes of iron and cobalt catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is made. For the more severe conditions, iron is the more active catalyst, whereas a cobalt catalyst may be more active at low-severity conditions. In spite of many reports, there are still considerable differences in defining catalyst activity. The selectivity for methane likewise shows a wide range of reported results. Under the proper conditions, both catalysts are capable of operating for 6 months or more.