Enhancement of C <sub>5+</sub> Selectivity and Wax Yield in Fischer−Tropsch Synthesis by a Single Cycle of H <sub>2</sub> /CO Feed Ratio Probed by <i>Operando</i> Magnetic Resonance
Enhancing the selectivity to long chain hydrocarbons is important for optimizing industrial Fischer−Tropsch synthesis (FTS). Here, we observe that a single cycle of the H2/CO feed ratio between 2 and 0.5 significantly enhances the steady state C5+ selectivity and wax (C30−C100) yield (>45% increase) for FTS over Ru/TiO2 catalyst pellets occurring in a fixed bed reactor. Operando magnetic resonance measurement reveals that this enhancement arises from changes in olefin mass transfer within the evolving intra-pellet hydrocarbon composition. Time-resolved analysis of intra-pellet hydrocarbon chain length and C5+ selectivity in the exit stream following a feed ratio switch highlights the importance of intra-pellet liquid composition in regulating selectivity.
Authors
- Andrew J. Sederman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7866-5550)
- G. Leendert Bezemer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7344-9250)
- Lynn F. Gladden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9519-0406)
- Constant M. Guédon (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5293-955X)
- Qingyuan Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3902-1848)
- Jack H. Williams (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7329-2823)
- Mick D. Mantle
Institutions
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté (FR)
- Shell (Netherlands) (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Catalysis
- Published
- 2026-04-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.6c01265
- Primary Topic
- Catalysts for Methane Reforming
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Shell Global Solutions International