Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: Deuterium labeled ethanol tracer studies on iron catalysts Original Research Article

The addition of D3- and D5-ethanol during Fischer–Tropsch synthesis with a promoted iron catalyst gives results that are consistent with ethanol initiating chain growth. However, there is considerable H/D exchange in the alcohol prior to initiating chain growth so that the D/molecule ratios in the alkane and alkene products are in the range 1.3–1.5. The nearly constant D/molecule ratio in the alkane and alkene products in the C5–C14 carbon number range is consistent with ethanol initiating chain growth.