Page 53 - Impiantistica Industriale - Settembre Ottobre 2014
P. 53
. 11 – 2013 methanol demand by end use and by region 7. Methanol to olefins
Fig. 12 – DME production The conventional route to produce light olefins, na-
mely ethylene and propylene, is via steam cracking.
Fig. 13 - Franz Joseph Emil A number of alternative routes exist to create these
Fischer (1877 – 1947) valuable petrochemical precursors, one of which is
via methanol in the MTO (Methanol to Olefins) or
Fig. 14 – Fischer-Tropsch synthesis MTP (Methanol to Propilene) processes.
52 Impiantistica Italiana - Settembre - Ottobre 2014 These recent technologies are just mentioned in
this paper but not described.
8. Fischer-Tropsch (FT) gas to
liquids
Process timeline:
• 1923, Fischer (figure 13) and Tropsch conver-
ted CO and hydrogen to liquid hydrocarbon
using Co, Fe and Ru-based catalysts;
• 1925, German patent issued on process;
• 1936, first commercial plant operates in Ger-
many.
GTL is a method of producing liquid hydrocarbons
in the middle distillate range (gasoline, jet fuel and
diesel). The basis of GTL technology is the Fischer-
Tropsch (FT) reaction where syngas is converted
into liquid hydrocarbons; the liquid hydrocarbons
are then be cracked into middle distillate products.
The FT reaction is shown below:
(2n + 1) H2 + n CO → CnH(2n+2) + n H2O
The reaction tends to take place between 150
and 300 °C with the pressure varying depending
on products and economics. Generally a lower
temperature and higher pressure would provide
a better product from the reaction, and longer
chain hydrocarbons. Several catalysts are available
depending on the technology being employed but
most tend to use transition metals such as iron and
cobalt (figure 14).
GTL is a method of producing liquid
hydrocarbons in the middle distillate
range (gasoline, jet fuel and diesel). The
basis of GTL technology is the Fischer-
Tropsch (FT) reaction where syngas is
converted into liquid hydrocarbons
The liquid hydrocarbons produced in the FT reac-
tion are then cracked and distilled in a similar man-
ner to a standard oil refinery (figure 15).
The liquid fuels produced from GTL facilities are
able to be marketed as premium products as they
contain very low levels of sulphur and aromatics,
the diesel has a high cetane number and burns
with lower particulate emissions. However, the
Fig. 12 – DME production The conventional route to produce light olefins, na-
mely ethylene and propylene, is via steam cracking.
Fig. 13 - Franz Joseph Emil A number of alternative routes exist to create these
Fischer (1877 – 1947) valuable petrochemical precursors, one of which is
via methanol in the MTO (Methanol to Olefins) or
Fig. 14 – Fischer-Tropsch synthesis MTP (Methanol to Propilene) processes.
52 Impiantistica Italiana - Settembre - Ottobre 2014 These recent technologies are just mentioned in
this paper but not described.
8. Fischer-Tropsch (FT) gas to
liquids
Process timeline:
• 1923, Fischer (figure 13) and Tropsch conver-
ted CO and hydrogen to liquid hydrocarbon
using Co, Fe and Ru-based catalysts;
• 1925, German patent issued on process;
• 1936, first commercial plant operates in Ger-
many.
GTL is a method of producing liquid hydrocarbons
in the middle distillate range (gasoline, jet fuel and
diesel). The basis of GTL technology is the Fischer-
Tropsch (FT) reaction where syngas is converted
into liquid hydrocarbons; the liquid hydrocarbons
are then be cracked into middle distillate products.
The FT reaction is shown below:
(2n + 1) H2 + n CO → CnH(2n+2) + n H2O
The reaction tends to take place between 150
and 300 °C with the pressure varying depending
on products and economics. Generally a lower
temperature and higher pressure would provide
a better product from the reaction, and longer
chain hydrocarbons. Several catalysts are available
depending on the technology being employed but
most tend to use transition metals such as iron and
cobalt (figure 14).
GTL is a method of producing liquid
hydrocarbons in the middle distillate
range (gasoline, jet fuel and diesel). The
basis of GTL technology is the Fischer-
Tropsch (FT) reaction where syngas is
converted into liquid hydrocarbons
The liquid hydrocarbons produced in the FT reac-
tion are then cracked and distilled in a similar man-
ner to a standard oil refinery (figure 15).
The liquid fuels produced from GTL facilities are
able to be marketed as premium products as they
contain very low levels of sulphur and aromatics,
the diesel has a high cetane number and burns
with lower particulate emissions. However, the
