Combinations of CO/CO2 reactions with Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

The combination of CO/CO2 shift reactions with Fischer–Tropsch synthesis offers the possibility to produce hydrocarbons from CO-rich syngas (from biomass or coal gasification) and from H2/CO2 mixtures. In the case of CO-rich synthesis gas, the H2/CO ratio needs to meet stoichiometric requirements for the low-temperature Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and therefore the CO is shifted to CO2 to form additional H2. Mixtures of H2/CO2 require the shift of CO2 into CO, which acts as intermediate in the production of short-chain hydrocarbons via high-temperature Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. The present work analyzes based on validated kinetic models how the shift reaction affects the FT reaction under operation conditions of interest and how both FT and shift reactions can be optimized to maximize hydrocarbon production.