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- In relation to this article, we declare that there is no conflict of interest.
- Publication history
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Received December 28, 2024
Revised March 5, 2025
Accepted May 7, 2026
Available online July 29, 2026
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This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/3.0) which permits
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Most Cited
The Design Of Continuous Fixed Bed Reactor For Biofuel Production Over Fischer-tropsch Synthesis
National Institute of Technology (ITN) Malang 1Malang State University
Korean Chemical Engineering Research, August 2026, 64(3), 105171
https://doi.org/10.9713/kcer.2026.64.3.105171
https://doi.org/10.9713/kcer.2026.64.3.105171
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Abstract
The development of continuous fixed-bed reactors is essential for studying reaction behavior and catalyst performance under elevated temperature and pressure. However, many Fischer–Tropsch (FT) reactor designs lack detailed specifications, leading to challenges in stability and reproducibility. This study presents a continuous fixed-bed tubular reactor for FT synthesis using synthesis gas (CO and H₂) with controlled temperature, pressure, and flow rate. The reactor employed a ceramic heater with PID controller and a modified double-stage regulator, achieving stable operation at 20 bar (±0.2 bar) and temperature fluctuations within ±3–4°C after reaching steady state over extended continuous operation periods up to 96 hours. The reaction produced two liquid phases: hydrocarbon-rich products in the upper layer and oxygenated compounds in the lower layer. GC-MS peak area analysis showed hydrocarbons were dominated by alkanes (C7–C25), with kerosene as the main fraction. Increasing catalyst weight raised alkane selectivity (up to 99.96%) and straight-chain hydrocarbons (up to 72.03%). This trend was attributed to reduced gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) and increased residence time, which promoted hydrogenation and chain growth. These results demonstrated stable reactor performance, with product distribution reported as relative composition rather than absolute yield.
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20. Guettel, R., Kunz, U. and Turek, T., “Reactors for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis,” Chem Eng Technol. 31, 746-754(2008).
21. Al Fatony, Z., Febriani, Y., Makertihartha, I., Gunawan, M. L. and Subagjo, S., “Acidity Effects of K Promoted Co-based Cata- lyst with NH4 OH Addition of the Impregnation Solution for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis,” MATEC Web of Conferences. 268, 1-5(2019).
22. Sineva, L. V., Asalieva, E. Y. and Mordkovich, V. Z., “The Role of Zeolite in The Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis over Cobalt–Zeo- lite Catalysts,” Russian Chemical Reviews 84, 1176-1189(2015).
23. Mirzaei, A. A., Sarani, R., Azizi, H. R., Vahid, S. and Torshizi, H. O., “Kinetics Modeling of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis on the Unsupported Fe-Co-Ni (ternary) Catalyst Prepared Using co- precipitation Procedure,” Fuel. 140(15), 701-710(2015).
2. Mousavi, S., Zamaniyan, A., Irani, M. and Rashidzadeh, M., “Generalized Kinetic Model for Iron and Cobalt Based Fischer- Tropsch Synthesis Catalysts: Review and Model Evaluation,” Appl Catal. A. 506, 57-66(2015).
3. Anderson, R. B., Feldman, J. and Storch, H. H., “Synthesis of Alcohols by Hydrogenation of Carbon Monoxide,” Ind. Eng. Chem. 44, 2418-2424(1952).
4. Jimmy, R. A., Suprapto, K. F., “Synthesis and Characterization of Fe-Co/mesoHZSM-5: Effect of Desilication Agent and Iron-cobalt Composition,” Korean Chemical Engineering Research, 58, 163- 169(2020).
5. Ghaani, M. R., Schicks, J. M. and English, N. J., “A Review of Reactor Designs for Hydrogen Storage in Clathrate Hydrates,” Applied Sciences (Switzerland) 11, 1-16(2021).
6. Vera, E. D., Peña, C. A. and Bolívar, L. R., “Mechanical Design for High-pressure Reactor to Microwave-assisted Leaching of Refractory Metals,” ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences 17, 303-311(2022).
7. Pandey, U., Runningen, A., Gavrilović, L, Jørgensen, E. A., Putta, K. R., Rout, K. R., Rytter, E., Blekkan, E. A., Hillestad, M., “Modeling Fischer–Tropsch Kinetics and Product Distribution over a Cobalt Catalyst,” AIChE Journal 67, 1-15(2021).
8. Teimouri, Z., Abatzoglou, N. and Dalai, A. K., “Kinetics and Selectivity Study of Fischer-tropsch Synthesis to c5+ Hydrocarbons: A Review,” Catalysts 11, 1-32(2021).
9. Sonal, K. K., Pant, K. K. and Upadhyayula, S., “Synergistic Effect of Fetextendashco Bimetallic Catalyst on FTS and WGS Activ- ity in the Fischertextendashtropsch Process: A Kinetic Study,” Ind Eng Chem Res. 56, 4659-4671(2017).
10. Balivada, R., Apparatus And Process For Gas To Liquid (Gtl) Conversion. 13(2012).
11. Griboval-Constant, A., Butel, A., Ordomsky, V. V., Chernavskii, P. A. and Khodakov, A. Y., “Cobalt and Iron Species in Alumina Supported Bimetallic Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch reaction,” Appl Catal A Gen. 481, 116-126(2014).
12. Mousavi, S., Zamaniyan, A., Irani, M. and Rashidzadeh, M., “Generalized Kinetic Model for Iron and Cobalt Based Fischer- tropsch Synthesis Catalysts: Review and Model Evaluation,” Appl Catal A Gen. 506, 57-66(2015).
13. Mahmoud Aboelkheir, I. M., “An Optimized Chemical and Mechanical Engineering Design of an Ammonia Reactor,” Cog- nizance Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies 2, 10-37(2022).
14. Abdollahi, M., Atashi, H., Tabrizi, F. F. and Mansouri, M., “Fischer– Tropsch Study over Impregnated Silica-supported Cobalt–iron Nanocatalyst,” Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society. 14, 245- 256(2017).
15. Nakhaei, P. A. and Housaindokht, M. R., “A New Kinetic Model for Direct CO2 Hydrogenation to Higher Hydrocarbons on a Precipitated Iron Catalyst: Effect of Catalyst Particle Size,” Jour- nal of Energy Chemistry. 26, 359-367(2017).
16. Sineva, L. V., Asalieva, E. Y. and Mordkovich, V. Z., “The Role of Zzeolite in The Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis over Cobalt–Zeo- lite Catalysts,” Russian Chemical Reviews 84, 1176-1189(2015).
17. Arsalanfar, M., Mirzaei, A. A., Bozorgzadeh, H. R., Samimi, A. and Ghobadi, R., “Effect of Support and Promoter on the Catalytic Per- formance and Structural Properties of the Fe-Co-Mn Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis,” Journal of Industrial and Engineer- ing Chemistry 20, 1313-1323(2014).
18. Al Fatony, Z., Resha, A. H., Persada, G. P., Makertihartha, I. G. B. N., Gunawan, M. L. and Subagjo, S., “Effects of Cu on the Modified Co-based Catalyst Activity for Fischer-tropsch Synthe- sis,” ASEAN Journal of Chemical Engineering. 18, 60-67(2018).
19. Borg, O., Eri, S., Blekkan, E. A., Storsæter, S., Wigum, H., Ryt- ter, E. and Holmen, A., “Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis over -alu- mina-supported Cobalt Catalysts: Effect of Support Variables,” J. Catal. 248, 89-100(2007).
20. Guettel, R., Kunz, U. and Turek, T., “Reactors for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis,” Chem Eng Technol. 31, 746-754(2008).
21. Al Fatony, Z., Febriani, Y., Makertihartha, I., Gunawan, M. L. and Subagjo, S., “Acidity Effects of K Promoted Co-based Cata- lyst with NH4 OH Addition of the Impregnation Solution for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis,” MATEC Web of Conferences. 268, 1-5(2019).
22. Sineva, L. V., Asalieva, E. Y. and Mordkovich, V. Z., “The Role of Zeolite in The Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis over Cobalt–Zeo- lite Catalysts,” Russian Chemical Reviews 84, 1176-1189(2015).
23. Mirzaei, A. A., Sarani, R., Azizi, H. R., Vahid, S. and Torshizi, H. O., “Kinetics Modeling of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis on the Unsupported Fe-Co-Ni (ternary) Catalyst Prepared Using co- precipitation Procedure,” Fuel. 140(15), 701-710(2015).
