Fischer-Tropsch Process
The Fischer-Tropsch process is an established technology, first used in Germany in the 1920s, that converts carbon monoxide and hydrogen into oils or fuels that can substitute for petroleum products. The reaction uses a catalyst based on iron or cobalt and is fueled by the partial oxidation of coal or wood-based fuels such as ethanol, methanol, or syngas typically coming from an adjacent gasifier. The current research indicates that combining woody biomass gasification processes with Fisher-Tropsch synthesis is preferred over the use of natural gas, and shows a promising route to producing economical renewable transportation fuels (Benham and Bohn 1983). By carefully controlling the temperature and oxygen content, resulting products can range from pure syngas to "green diesel" or even used to increase the hydrogren byproduct that can be used for the production of ammonia or for fuel cells (USEPA 2002).
Changing World Technologies, Shell, and Choren have all invested in Fischer-Tropsch technologies. In late 2005, Shell licensed technology to Waste Management and Processors in Pennsylvania to construct a plant that will use the process to convert slag-coal into low-sulfer diesel fuel that has shown to be an effective alternative fuel in the trucking industry. The use of these fuels has shown a dramatic reduction in the amount of NOx and SOx emissions compared to traditional diesel emissions (Norton 1998).
Encyclopedia ID: p1207
