Process for the Production of Light Olefins from Synthesis Gas
A new process for light-olefins production is disclosed. The process comprises the step of contacting syngas with a iron-based catalyst at a temperature in the range from 250° C. to 350° C. and at a pressure in the range from 10 bar to 40 bar. By so doing a production of light olefins with a selectivity of at least 80% is obtained.
1 . A process for the production of C2-C4 olefins comprising the step of contacting syngas with a iron-based catalyst at a temperature in the range from 250° C. to 350° C. and at a pressure in the range from 10 bar to 40 bar, wherein said iron-based catalyst includes nano-sized Fe particles as active component which are dispersed on a support or matrix, said nano-sized Fe particles being Fe nano-particles, Fe alloy nano-particles, nano-particles having an iron or iron alloy core and an iron-oxide shell or mixtures thereof.
2 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein said nano-sized Fe particles have an iron or iron alloy core and an iron-oxide shell or mixtures thereof.
3 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein said nano-sized Fe particles are substantially spherical and have a diameter less than 50 nm.
4 . The process according to claim 2 , wherein the content of said nano-sized Fe particles is comprised between 1% and 5% by weight on the weight of the support or matrix.
5 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst includes a promoter of the catalytic activity chosen from elements, molecules/compounds and combinations thereof including: aluminium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, silicon, manganese and copper.
6 . The process according to claim 5 , wherein the catalyst includes a Mn promoter.
7 . A process for the production of C2-C4 olefins comprising the step of contacting syngas with a iron-based catalyst at a temperature in the range from 250° C. to 350° C. and at a pressure in the range from 10 bar to 40 bar, wherein said iron-based catalyst includes iron and/or iron oxides particles as active component optionally arranged on a support or matrix and include a Mn promoter, as a promoter of the catalytic activity.
8 . The process according to claim 1 , wherein said support or matrix is a metal oxide support or matrix chosen from the group including alumina, titania, silica, magnesium oxide, silica-alumina, ferrous materials such as magnetite, wustite, cordierite and mixtures thereof.
9 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein said metal oxide support or matrix is magnetite.
10 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein said contacting step is carried out at a temperature from 300° C. to 350° C.
11 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein the syngas has a H2:CO molar ratio in the range from 1.5 to 2.5.
12 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein the catalyst includes one or more promoters in a percentage of 0.1-5% by weight on the weight of the support or matrix.
13 . The process according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of removing the reaction heat formed by the syngas conversion in a continuous or discontinuous way.
14 . The process according to claim 3 , wherein said nano-sized Fe particles are substantially spherical and have a diameter between 15 and 25 mn.
15 . The process according to claim 3 , wherein said nano-sized Fe particles are substantially spherical and have a diameter between 1 and 15 nm.
16 . The process according to claim 6 , wherein the catalyst includes MnO and a K promoter.
17 . The process according to claim 7 , wherein the catalyst includes MnO and a K promoter.
18 . The process according to claim 7 , wherein said support or matrix is a metal oxide support or matrix chosen from the group including alumina, titania, silica, magnesium oxide, silica-alumina, ferrous materials such as magnetite, wustite, cordierite and mixtures thereof.
19 . The process according to claim 8 , wherein the syngas has a H2:CO molar ratio around 2:1.