Processing of Primary Fischer-Tropsch Products - University of Alberta

FT naphthas have the added benefit of having sulphur contents below 1 ppm.
Their inclusion in blends should assist refiners in meeting low sulphur content
specifications.
7.3 Other applications for LTFT products
The applications for products derived from LTFT Syncrude are the same as
those of most crude oils. However, due to its ultralow sulphur content, all FT-
based products will need less processing to meet strict environmental
specifications.
The low sulphur content and highly paraffinic nature of the FT derived
products make them ideal candidates for fuel cell applications [88]. In this case,
their low aromatic and naphthenic contents become an additional advantage that
results in extremely low carbon deposition in the reforming catalysts.
High-octane naphthas could be obtained from FT syncrude after adequate
processing. Although this is technically attainable, there are better and more
cost-effective petroleum processes for this purpose.
The possible use of the LTFT wax as rocket propellant is another
interesting option [89].
8. LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION OF HIGH VALUE LTFT PRODUCTS
Most of the recent interest for future LTFT GTL plants has been for the use of
supported cobalt catalyst in slurry phase reactors. There are good reasons for this
approach not least of which is the relative simplicity of the process that lends
itself to successful application at remote locations. Work is in progress to
construct plants at Ras Laffan, Qatar and Escravos, Nigeria. This concept uses
the Sasol Slurry Phase Distillate TM (Sasol SPD TM) process or the Shell Middle
Distillate Synthesis (SMDS TM) process to produce mainly diesel fuel with by-
product naphtha.
Although these processes are ideally suited for the production of diesel,
Sasol and Shell have recognized the opportunity to produce chemicals in a
synergistic manner.
There was a time when it was thought that future large scale GTL plants
will not be able to target higher value hydrocarbon products due to limitations
imposed by the size of the markets. For exan~le, Shell stated in 1995 that their
future SMDS projects will be based on transportation fuels only [81, 82].
However, for at least three important products namely ethylene, propylene and
lubricant base oils (also known as waxy raffinate), the markets are large enough
to sustain large scale co-production of these products. In the recently announced
Shell plant in Qatar, that is eventually expected to produce about 140 000 bbl/d
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