The early isotopic tracer studies in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) were mainly utilizing the 14C and 13C tracer techniques. The possible H/D exchange during FTS is the reason why deuterium tracer technique was not widely used. Since 1990, we have used the deuteium tracer technique to study the topics such as deviations from ASF kinetics, the role of water, the ratios of alkane/alkene, a values changing with changing the total pressure, and the roles of added alcohols and alkenes during FTS. Recently, by utilizing the H2/D2 switch and completion methods, we found that there is an inverse isotope effect and there exits deuterium enrichments during FTS. Based on these results, an alkylidene mechanism for cobalt catalyzed FTS was proposed. The formation of branched hydrocarbons can be expained by the alkylidene mechanism.

Deuterium tracer studies, alkylidene mechanism, and formation of branched hydrocarbons during Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

245th National Meeting (2013)

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