Telomerization Model for Cobalt-Catalyzed Fischer-Tropsch Products

The products from cobalt-catalyzed low-pressure Fischer-Tropsch syntheses were quantitatively analyzed for their carbon number distributions. On-line dual column chromatography measured the products up to C 16; off-line capillary chromatography measured the heavy products. With the exception of the C 1 to C 4 products, Schulz-Flory-type distributions were analytically demonstrated up to C 22. The C 2 to C 4 products were found to be nearly constant fractions of the values expected from Schulz-Flory distributions, depending little on the experimental variables. A simple model based on telomeric initiation by the primary C 2 to C 4 olefins gives a good quantitative description of the entire distribution, with the exception of the C 1 fraction.