Bai Rongxian, Tan Yisheng and Han Yizhuo
Abstract
Synthesis of iso-alkanes from carbon dioxide hydrogenation was investigated over Fe–Zn–M/Zeolite composite catalysts. The effects of different promoter metals (M=Cr, Mn, Zr, Al, La) and zeolites on the performance of carbon dioxide hydrogenation were studied. The structure and the acidity of zeolites were investigated. It was found that Zr had a better promotional effect than other additive metal components for the iron-based catalyst. The catalyst had different catalytic performances with different zeolites and the distribution of hydrocarbon products was influenced by the acidity of the zeolite. The HY zeolite was the most effective one for iso-alkane synthesis due to its medium-strength and strong acid sites, which could be observed through temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia."
This is, actually, pretty detailed stuff. In essence, they seem to be tweaking a zeolite catalyst, as used by Exxon-Mobil in their MTG(r) coal-to-methanol-to-gasoline process, by assessing the effects of different metal ion additives. They are, in other words, fine tuning a process, a process based on one for converting coal into liquid fuels, that they already know works. They are making the process more efficient, practical and profitable.
"Iso-alkanes", by the way, according to very general web-based resources, would include paraffin and kerosene. Without citing references, it appears that paraffin can be "cracked" into gasoline components, and kerosene itself serves as a pretty dandy jet fuel.
Also interesting to note, isn't it, that China has a "Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion" and an "Institute of Coal Chemistry"? They seem to take the potentials for coal conversion pretty seriously.