What is Fischer-Tropsch?

I had time to browse around for white papers on Google. I came across one with a really succinct description of Fischer-Tropsch. I thought it might be worth capturing for future reference.

Thanks to a group focusing on "Improved Fischer-Tropsch Economics Enabled
by Microchannel Technology"


Fischer-Tropsch Process and Products

The FT process was first developed by Franz Fischer and Hanz Tropsch in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. The chemistry is based on making longer chain hydrocarbons from a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2), referred to as “synthesis gas”, at an elevated pressure and temperature and in the presence of a catalyst.

The excess heat generated from the reaction has typically been removed by inserting boiler tubes that carry water. In theory, any source of carbon can be used to generate the synthesis gas. The majority of the products from FT synthesis are paraffinic waxes based on the following chemical equation.


nCO + (2n+1)H2 → CnH2n+2 + H2O (1)

Typical byproducts are liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and naphtha. After the FT process, heavier hydrocarbons can be hydrocracked to produce distillate products, notably diesel and jet fuels.[

FT derived transportation fuels are typically referred to as synthetic fuels. During the 20th
century, these fuels were derived from coal in situations where petroleum was not readily available, such as Germany in WWII and South Africa during Apartheid.


The white paper of course goes on to describe why its relevant now. Regardless I love how simply this captured the subject. It is also worth note that the paper's focus on micro-channels ain't half bad neither. Oregon State University has some reasonable research going on around micro-channels and its supposed to have a huge potential. Though the promises of a micro-channel biodiesel technology never really materialized as promised five years ago (being it was five years out five years ago).

Oregon Alfalfa Growers, Cellulosic Ethanol, and OSU in the News

From the Capital Press
Oregon: Alfalfa Growers Consider Biofuel Options
Feb 18, 2008 - By Patricia R. McCoy, Capital Press (I saw this first at the Biobased News)

RENO, Nev. - Biofuels have a place in filling U.S. energy needs, but they can't solve the entire problem.Cellulosic ethanol can be part of it, but the necessary technology development probably won't come as fast as is hoped, some 160 members of the Northwest Alfalfa Seed Growers Association heard here Jan. 21.There are currently no U.S. ethanol plants using cellulose as their seed stock, said Don Wysocki, Oregon State University extension soil scientist stationed at Pendleton, Ore. The first one is likely five to 10 years away from construction.

Just to mention it. Cellulosic ethanol is here now. The issue is that it's not considered cost competive unless corn and petroleum prices stay at their now record levels. So it all hinges not on the technology but the commodity prices of petroleum and corn.

There are several real players pursuing cellulosic ethanol right now in Oregon. The most prominent being Pacific Ethanol which will be running a demonstration of cellulosic ethanol at it's Port of Morrow, Oregon plant this summer. Also worth mentioning is Trillium Fiber Fuels out of Corvallis, Oregon which promises the ability to build a commercial scale plant given the right market conditions (they've demonstrated now that they need the right conditions to own their technology while going commericial scale).

Also worth mentioning is the fact that the paper industry and cellulosic ethanol have many of the same technologies in common. The technology to strip the lignen from the cellulosic fiber is used currently by the paper industry. In fact they manufacture methanol in biodigesters and burn it as a cheap energy product called black liquor. Cellulosic ethanol just requires more efficient yields than current paper pulping which isn't making ethanol but instead the cellulosic fiber itself.

We have industrial infrastructure to handle the technical process, experienced engineers, the distributors of enzymes and bugs, not to mention a world class amount of woody material and agricultural producers to contribute to this industry. Oh yeah - did I mention the highest retail gasoline prices in the US combined with a 10% ethanol mandate year round. Oregon is prime for cellulose sooner rather than later. I would say 10 years only if oil drops back below $60 a barrel.

Go Beavs - OSU Develops a Bio-adhesive

From the Science Daily:

Researchers at Oregon State University developed a new, environmentally friendly adhesive made with renewable natural resources. The glue, which replaces current adhesives that release cancer-causing chemicals into the air, will improve the environment and human health, as well as provide new markets for U.S. soybean farmers.

Since the 1940s, adhesive products used to make wood products, such as plywood, particleboard and fiberboard, contained cancer causing-chemicals, such as phenol–formaldehyde and urea–formaldehyde resins. This product, developed by Kaichang Li and colleagues at Oregon State University, provides a high-performance, formaldehyde-free adhesive alternative.

The soy-based adhesive is stronger than, and cost-competitive with, conventional adhesives. Application of this adhesive in U.S. wood products may improve the global competitiveness of U.S wood composite companies, including furniture and kitchen cabinetry industries. In addition, the use of a soy-based adhesive product will enhance the economic benefits to U.S. soybean farmers.