Synthesis of high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons from CO and H2 over a cobalt catalyst

Hydrocarbon synthesis from CO and H 2 over a cobalt catalyst has been carried out, and the dependence of the selectivity and productivity of the process on process parameters, namely, temperature, pressure, GHSV, and synthesis gas composition has been investigated. Raising the temperature by 17°C decreases the high-molecular-weight hydrocarbon (C 35+ ) selectivity of the process by 24% at GHSV = 60 h −1 and by 69% at GHSV = 100 h −1 . Raising the pressure from 0.1 to 2.0 MPa improves these characteristics of the process, and increasing the GHSV from 60 to 300 h −1 diminishes them. Concentrated synthesis gas mixtures should be used to obtain C 35+ hydrocarbons (ceresin). The actual composition of the resulting hydrocarbon mixture differs from the theoretical composition calculated using the Anderson-Schulz-Flory molar mass distribution equation, suggesting that, under real synthesis conditions, the molar mass distribution is described by more complicated relationships. This study is an applied one, and its results are planned to be used in the design of a pilot plant for ceresin (brand 100) production.