Diffusion of n-paraffins in carbonaceous materials

Abstract

A deep understanding of the diffusion mechanisms in porous solids is essential to the development of many processes involving heterogeneous catalysis. The impregnation of metals on porous supports is generally an effective way of increasing the catalyst efficiency, but the effects of such procedure on the transport properties are poorly known. Zeolite, silica and alumina are most frequently used as supports for heterogeneous catalysts. Despite the several potential advantages of using activated carbon (AC) as supports (e.g. high specific surface areas), little has been studied regarding diffusion behavior in these materials. The Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) is a process which could benefit from the use of carbon-based impregnated materials. The Zero Length Column (ZLC) method was applied in this study to evaluate the diffusion of n-heptane and n-octane, relevant products of the FTS, in carbon-based materials before and after impregnation with Fe. The aim was to investigate the kinetics under the usual temperature conditions of the FTS and determine if the products diffusion poses a significant resistance for the process.