Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis converts syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, into liquid paraffinic hydrocarbons over iron or cobalt catalysts, typically at 200 to 350 degrees C and 10 to 30 atm. Named after Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch (1920s), it is the core step in gas-to-liquid (GTL), coal-to-liquid (CTL), and biomass-to-liquid (BTL) fuels, and in Fischer-Tropsch e-diesel from green hydrogen and captured CO2. Commercial plants include Shell Pearl (Qatar), Shell Bintulu (Malaysia), and Sasol’s coal-based plants. The output is sulfur-free and aromatic-free, drops into diesel engines under EN 15940, and its well-to-wake CO2 is set entirely by the carbon source.