COMPOSITION MODULATION OF THE FISCHER-TROPSCH SYNTHESIS OVER A SUPPORTED COBALT CATALYST

Different cycling strategies are explored to see if carbon chain growt h can be enhanced and methane formation suppressed. Of the strategies considered, bang-bang cycling between H-2 and CO feeds substantially i ncreased the consumption of CO and H-2, but the formation of higher hy drocarbons and olefins was reduced. The best strategy for longer chain hydrocarbons suitable for jet or diesel fuels was found to be cycling between syngas mixtures. None of the cycling strategies was able to p roduce C-8+ or low-molar mass olefin yields that matched yields found in steady-state operation.