Reference
Number: U-4719
Invention
Description:
This
technology describes the synthesis of ferrihydrite, iron based catalyst, for the
Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis. Ferrihydrites are found in nature and are well
known precursors to various iron oxides. In this technology, 2-line ferrihydrite
catalysts have been synthesized and characterized. Interestingly, a ferrihydrite
catalyst that was prepared for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was found to
contain other metals normally not present in naturally occurring ferrihydrites.
The ferrihydrite catalyst modified with F-T promoter metals has been shown to be
a highly active F-T catalyst. The reported synthesis represents a novel route to
produce ferrihydrite catalysts, which are nanoparticles with ultra small
dimensions and a very high surface area compared to naturally occurring
ferrihydrite.
Market
Applications:
The
production and development of synthetic fuels has been long viewed as an
alternative solution to limit the use of fossil fuels and support growing energy
need. Recently, the Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis has been generating renewed
attention as an efficient method to transform syn gas (a mixture of CO and
H2) generated from various sources such as coal, biomass, and natural
gas to useful components and products, for example, gasoline, diesel fuel, waxes
and other valuable chemicals. Utilization of iron catalysts in the
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has proven to be efficient due its reasonable price
and activity, and is especially beneficial with syn gas generated from coal
gasification.
Features,
Benefit & Advantages:
One of the examples of an iron based catalyst is ferrihydrite that
was shown to be highly useful in
the generation of alternative liquid fuels from syn gas obtained from a source,
such as coal or biomass. As a result of the straightforward method of synthesis, ultra
small particle size and high surface area leads to excellent catalytic activity.
The highly active synthetic ferrihydrite catalyst will find broad application in
the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Intellectual
Property: Two
provisional patent applications have been filed with the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office.
Development
Stage:
This
technology is part of an active and ongoing research program that has been
demonstrated to work in proof-of-concept experiments. It is available for
developmental research support and licensing under either exclusive or
non-exclusive terms.
Related
Research & Publications:
·
Dr. Eyring's
web page: http://www.chem.utah.edu/directory/faculty/eyring.html
·
Dr.
Ernst's web page: http://www.chem.utah.edu/directory/faculty/ernst.html
Key
Words Ferrihydrite, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, alternative
fuels.