Kinetics modeling of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on the unsupported Fe-Co-Ni (ternary) catalyst prepared using co-precipitation procedure

An active Iron-Cobalt-Nickel catalyst was prepared using co-precipitated method and tested for CO hydrogenation to light olefins in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The kinetic experiments were performed in a fixed-bed reactor as follows: T = 250-270 degrees C, P = 1-7 bar, GHSV = 6000 h (1) and H-2/CO feed ratio (mol/mol) = 1-2.5. On the basis of various mechanisms and LHHW type rate equations, eighteen kinetic expressions for CO consumption were tested and the best fitted model is achieved. The kinetic parameters were estimated with non-linear regression method. The obtained energy of activation was 79.88 kJ/ mol for optimal kinetic model. The catalyst characterization was carried out using different methods including XRD, SEM and BET.(C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.