Abstract: The invention relates to a method for start-up and operation of a Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reactor with a fixed bed of reduced Fischer-Tropsch catalyst that comprises cobalt as catalytically active metal; (b) supplying a gaseous feed stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen to the reactor, wherein the gaseous feed stream comprises a nitrogen-containing compound other than molecular nitrogen in an initial concentration, wherein the initial concentration in the range of from 10 to 350 ppbv based on the volume of the gaseous feed stream; (c) converting carbon monoxide and hydrogen supplied with the gaseous feed stream to the reactor into hydrocarbons at a reaction temperature and at a set reactor productivity, whilst maintaining the initial concentration of the nitrogen-containing compound and maintaining the set reactor productivity during a first time period by adjusting the reaction temperature; (d) decreasing the concentration of the nitrogen-containing compound

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for start-up and operation of a Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprising the steps of: (a) providing a reactor with a fixed bed of reduced Fischer-Tropsch catalyst that comprises cobalt as catalytically active metal; (b) supplying a gaseous feed stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen to the reactor, wherein the gaseous feed stream comprises a nitrogen-containing compound other than molecular nitrogen in an initial concentration, wherein the initial concentration in the range of from 10 to 350 ppbv based on the volume of the gaseous feed stream; (c) converting carbon monoxide and hydrogen supplied with the gaseous feed stream to the reactor into hydrocarbons at a reaction temperature and at a set reactor productivity, whilst maintaining the initial concentration of the nitrogen-containing compound and maintaining the set reactor productivity during a first time period by adjusting the reaction temperature; (d) decreasing the concentration of the nitrogen- containing compound

Abstract: A process for facilitating the unloading of a fixed bed of cobalt/metal oxide catalyst particles from a reactor tube by (i) feeding a gas comprising 10 to 30 (vol/vol) percent of oxygen to the reactor tube with a GHSV for oxygen of 0.5 to 50 Nl/l/hr, and (ii) removing the catalyst particles from the reactor tube. In the fixed bed of catalyst particles to which the oxygen comprising gas is fed in step (i) at most 10 mole % of the element cobalt is present in Co3O4 and/or CoO, calculated on the total amount of moles of cobalt in the catalyst particles.

Abstract: A process for facilitating the unloading of a fixed bed of cobalt/metal oxide catalyst particles from a reactor tube by (i) feeding a gas comprising 10 to 30 (vol/vol) percent of oxygen to the reactor tube with a GHSV for oxygen of 0.5 to 50 Nl/l/hr, and (ii) removing the catalyst particles from the reactor tube. In the fixed bed of catalyst particles to which the oxygen comprising gas is fed in step (i) at most 10 mole % of the element cobalt is present in Co3O4 and/or CoO, calculated on the total amount of moles of cobalt in the catalyst particles.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a reactor tube comprising a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles in 5%-40% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) of between 3.0 to 4.5 mm-1, and the remaining catalyst particles have an average S/V of between 4.5 to 8.0 mm-1, and wherein the difference between the average S/V of the particles at the upstream end and the remaining fixed bed volume is at least 0.5 mm-1. Additionally the fixed bed volume at the upstream end shows a full-bed apparent catalytic activity per volume unit lower than the full-bed apparent catalytic activity per volume unit in the remaining fixed bed volume and/or the weight of catalytically active metal per weight unit at the upstream end is more than 70% lower than in the remaining fixed bed volume.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a reactor tube comprising a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles in 5% to 40% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) in the range of between 3.0 to 4.5 mm?1, and the catalyst particles in the remaining fixed bed volume have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) in the range of between 4.5 to 8.0 mm?1, and wherein the difference between the average S/V of the particles at the upstream end and the average S/V of the particles in the remaining fixed bed volume is at least 0.5 mm?1.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for carrying out a high-speed stop in a Fischer-Tropsch process which comprises providing a feed to a fixed bed reactor comprising a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, the reactor being at reaction temperature and pressure, and withdrawing an effluent from the reactor, wherein the high-speed stop is effected by blocking provision of feed to the reactor and simultaneously blocking the withdrawal of effluent from the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a reactor tube comprising a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles in 5% to 40% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) of between 3.0 to 4.5 mm?1, and the catalyst particles in the remaining fixed bed volume have an average S/V of between 4.5 to 8.0 mm?1, and wherein the difference between the average S/V of the particles at the upstream end and the average S/V of the particles in the remaining fixed bed volume is at least 0.5 mm?1. The weight of catalytically active metal per volume unit in 5% to 33% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end is 59% to 69% lower than the weight of catalytically active metal per volume unit in the remaining fixed bed volume.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a packed bed comprising an iron enriched cobalt catalyst for use in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a packed bed with one or more catalyst particles comprising metallic cobalt; (b) contacting a part of the catalyst particle(s) in the packed bed with an iron containing compound. The process is preferably conducted in situ which conveniently results in an iron containing cobalt catalyst with a higher C5+ selectivity. In certain preferred embodiments the concentration of iron increases towards the surface of the resulting catalyst particles whereas the cobalt concentration is constant which further increases the selectivity of the catalyst to producing C5+ hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for regenerating a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, of which at least 40 wt % of the catalyst particles have a size of at least 1 mm, in situ in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor tube. The process comprises the steps of: (i) optionally oxidizing the catalyst at a temperature between 200 and 400° C.; (ii) oxidizing the catalyst at a temperature above 580° C. and below 670° C.; and (iii) reducing the catalyst with hydrogen or a hydrogen comprising gas. This process may be preceded by a step in which Fischer-Tropsch product is removed from the catalyst.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a reactor tube comprising a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles in 5%-40% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) of between 3.0 to 4.5 mm-1, and the remaining catalyst particles have an average S/V of between 4.5 to 8.0 mm-1, and wherein the difference between the average S/V of the particles at the upstream end and the remaining fixed bed volume is at least 0.5 mm-1. Additionally the fixed bed volume at the upstream end shows a full-bed apparent catalytic activity per volume unit lower than the full-bed apparent catalytic activity per volume unit in the remaining fixed bed volume and/or the weight of catalytically active metal per weight unit at the upstream end is more than 70% lower than in the remaining fixed bed volume.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a reactor tube comprising a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, wherein the catalyst particles in 5% to 40% of the fixed bed volume at the upstream end have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) in the range of between 3.0 to 4.5 mm?1, and the catalyst particles in the remaining fixed bed volume have an average outer surface to volume ratio (S/V) in the range of between 4.5 to 8.0 mm?1, and wherein the difference between the average S/V of the particles at the upstream end and the average S/V of the particles in the remaining fixed bed volume is at least 0.5 mm?1.

Abstract: Method to start a steady state process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas, which process comprises the steps of: (i) providing the synthesis gas; and (ii) catalytically converting the synthesis gas at an elevated temperature and a steady state total reactor pressure to obtain the normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons; the method comprising admixing the synthesis gas of step (i) with one or more inert gases to form an admixture stream prior to catalytically converting the synthesis gas in step (ii) at the steady state total reactor pressure and wherein as the activity of the catalyst converting the synthesis gas proceeds towards a steady state, the amount of inert gas(es) in the admixture stream is reduced.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a multi-stage process for the production of hydrocarbons from syngas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which comprises the steps of: a) providing a fresh syngas feed to a first stage Fischer-Tropsch reactor and allowing CO and hydrogen to convert into hydrocarbon products at a temperature in the range from 125 to 400° C. and a pressure in the range from 5 to 150 bar absolute, and a gaseous hourly space velocity in the range from 500 to 10000 Nl/l/h; b) feeding the effluent from the first stage reactor to a separation unit; c) removing a gasous effluent stream comprising hydrogen and CO from the separation unit; d) removing one or more other streams comprising hydrocarbon and/or water from the separation unit; e) conveying a first portion of the gaseous effluent stream to a second stage Fischer-Tropsch reactor and allowing CO and hydrogen to convert into hydrocarbon products in the second stage Fischer-Tropsch reactor at a temperature in the range from 125 to 400° C.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process for carrying out a high-speed stop in a Fischer-Tropsch process which comprises providing a feed to a fixed bed reactor comprising a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, the reactor being at reaction temperature and pressure, and withdrawing an effluent from the reactor, wherein the high-speed stop is effected by blocking provision of feed to the reactor and simultaneously blocking the withdrawal of effluent from the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a Process for carrying out a high-speed stop in a Fischer-Tropsch process which comprises providing a feed comprising CO and H2 to the inlet section of a fixed bed reactor comprising a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, the reactor being at reaction temperature and pressure, and withdrawing an effluent from the outlet section of the reactor, wherein the high-speed stop is effected by blocking provision of the CO and H2 to the reactor, and withdrawing gaseous reactor content from the reactor, the gaseous reactor content being withdrawn at least in part from the inlet section of the reactor.

Abstract: A process for carrying out a high-speed stop in a Fischer-Tropsch process which comprises providing a feed comprising CO and H2 to a fixed bed reactor comprising a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, the reactor being at reaction temperature and pressure, the gaseous hourly space velocity in the reactor being in the range from 500 to 10000 Nl/l/h, and withdrawing an effluent from the reactor, wherein the high-speed stop is effected by blocking provision of H2 to the reactor while providing CO to the reactor, and withdrawing gaseous reactor content from the reactor, and wherein during the high-speed stop CO is added in an amount of 5-80 Nl/l/h.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a packed bed comprising an iron enriched cobalt catalyst for use in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a packed bed with one or more catalyst particles comprising metallic cobalt; (b) contacting a part of the catalyst particle(s) in the packed bed with an iron containing compound. The process is preferably conducted in situ which conveniently results in an iron containing cobalt catalyst with a higher C5+ selectivity. In certain preferred embodiments the concentration of iron increases towards the surface of the resulting catalyst particles whereas the cobalt concentration is constant which further increases the selectivity of the catalyst to producing C5+ hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for regenerating a fixed bed of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles, of which at least 40 wt % of the catalyst particles have a size of at least 1 mm, in situ in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor tube. The process comprises the steps of: (i) optionally oxidising the catalyst at a temperature between 200 and 400° C.; (ii) oxidising the catalyst at a temperature above 580° C. and below 670° C.; and (iii) reducing the catalyst with hydrogen or a hydrogen comprising gas. This process may be preceded by a step in which Fischer-Tropsch product is removed from the catalyst.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for modifying a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst or catalyst precursor, the process comprising the steps of: contacting a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst or catalyst precursor comprising a titania carrier with a compound having the general formula RaX(4-a)Y wherein a is in the range of 1-3, and wherein the or each R is independently an alkyl or aryl group; Y is silicon or titanium, and, the or each X is independently chosen from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkoxy group and ZY?BB?B2?, Z being oxygen, —NH, or —NR, wherein R is an alkyl or aryl group comprising 1 to 8 carbon atoms, Y? being silicon or titanium, and B, B? and B2 ,independently being hydrogen or an alkyl, aryl, or alkoxy group. In a preferred embodiment the compound RaX(4-a)Y is hexamethyldisilazane.