Slurry phase Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over manganese-promoted iron ultrafine particle catalyst

An industrial manganese-promoted ultrafine particle (UFP) iron catalyst for slurry phase Fischer–Tropsch synthesis was examined in a 1 dm3 stirred tank slurry reactor under various reaction conditions as a representative of industrial practice (533–573 K, 1.5–2.5 MPa, 1.0–2.5 l (STP)/g-cat h, H2/CO=0.65–2.0). The Fe–Mn UFP catalyst showed high CO conversion and gave high yields of C2–C4 alkenes, partially attributed to less secondary hydrogenation of alkenes during the slurry reaction. The catalyst displayed a slow deactivation rate with time on stream. The effects of reaction conditions on the catalytic activity, hydrocarbon product distribution and the ratio of alkene/alkane were discussed.