Iron Nanocatalyst Increases Fischer-Tropsch Process’s Efficiency

Iranian scientists at the Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI) used iron nanocatalyst instead of iron catalyst for converting syngas to hydrocarbons to increase Fischer-Tropsch process’s efficiency up to 1.5 times.

Using iron catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch process (converting synthesis gas (a mixture of CO and H2) to hydrocarbons) is of great significance compared to other metals, the Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC) said.

Therefore, base-promoted iron-based catalysts have been industrially used in this process to convert synthesis gas to high value chemical and petrochemical products for many years.

“The researches are making progress in upgrading the activity of iron catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch process and improving its ability to produce the products at the same amount of catalyst which results in reduction of Industrial reactors dimensions and decrease in the mentioned process related costs,” Ali Nakhaeipour, one of the project’s researchers told INIC.

The efficiency of this nanocatalyst which is prepared by micro-emulsion and fast precipitation is about 1.5 times as great as the activity of common samples, he added.

“Consequently, iron nanocatalyst could have a better performance than common catalysts due to its better activity and high value products selectivity,” Nakhaeipour underlined.

He mentioned that since Iran enjoys the world’s second largest natural gas reserves and it is possible to use renewable resources, including agricultural and municipal wastes to produce fuel in Fischer-Tropsch process, commercialization of these new catalysts production is of great importance.