Development of a kinetic model for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over Co/Ni/Al2O3 catalyst

In the present research an active Co–Ni/Al2O3 catalyst was prepared by impregnation method for synthesis of light olefins in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. After studying the effects of using optimized operating conditions on catalyst performance, the kinetic experimental study was performed in a differential micro-fixed-bed-reactor by altering reaction temperature (230–270 °C), pressure (2–12 bar), gas hourly space velocity (2000–7200 h−1) and H2/CO feed molar ratio (1–3). Based on Langmuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson (LHHW) approach, seven different two-parameter kinetic models were considered. The kinetic data of this study were fitted accurately by a simple form −rCO=APCOPH2/(1+bPCOPH20.5)2 that assumed the following kinetically relevant steps, where CO dissociates via interaction with adsorbed hydrogen; the first hydrogenation step of the surface carbon was reversible and fast, while the second one was slow and rate determining. The kinetic parameters were determined using Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) method and the apparent activation energy and heat of adsorption were 78.70 kJ/mol and −14.16 kJ/mol, respectively.