Renewable FT-Liquids using Fe and Fe-Co catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes with novel catalyst docking stations

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Uschi M. Graham, graham@caer.uky.edu1, Rajesh A Khatri, khatri@caer.uky.edu1, Alan Dozier2, Neil J. Coville, N/A3, Munga C Bahome3, Linda L Jewell3, and Burtron H Davis, davis@caer.uky.edu1. (1) Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, 2540 Research Park Drive, Lexington, KY 40511-8479, (2) Electron Microscopy Center, University of Kentucky, ASTeCC Building, Lexington, KY 40506, (3) University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
The economically most promising route to produce a renewable liquid energy carrier ‘bio-diesel' is based on the combined use of biomass gasification followed by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). The FT process allows for the synthesis of liquid fuels from syngas (CO + H2). Such FT-derived liquid fuels have both low aromatic and sulfur contents which will lead to improved emissions. Syngas derived from renewable biomass contains H2S, NH3, large condensable organic compounds (tar) and ultrafine particulates which can act as catalyst poisons and extensive research focuses on biogas cleaning prior to the FT-process. Robustness and long-term stability are in great demand for FT-catalyst systems to be used for liquid fuel production from biomass. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were shown to provide not only excellent structural support for the FT catalyst but can uniquely host the catalyst particles inside nanosized docking stations that developed as a result of the nanotube /catalyst preparation method. The shielding of the catalyst in nanosized docking stations along the nanotube walls is described for the first time. The docking stations inhibit the catalyst particle agglomeration during processing seen in conventional catalysts thus providing higher stability.