Author(s)

MIKHAIL GOTOVSKY, ALEXANDER GOTOVSKY, VITALY LYCHAKOV, VLADIMIR MIKHAYLOV, YURY SUKHORUKOV, EKATERINA SUKHORUKOVA

Abstract

The Fischer–Tropsch process (F-T process) is known as a method of synthesizing organic products (including liquid fuel) from CO + H₂ mixture gases (synthesis gas) using various catalysts. The interest in the F-T process is associated with the global struggle against carbon emissions. Earlier we noted that the electrochemical synthesis of formic acid from water and atmospheric CO₂ can be a promising general scheme for obtaining “green fuel” with minus (negative) “carbonic effect” simultaneously “formate cycle” (synthesis of organic products from formic acid produced from atmospheric CO₂) fuel has zero carbon balance. This synthesis is brought to efficiency, surpassing natural photosynthesis. Synthesized formic acid can be used as a fuel for fuel cells and as a hydrogen accumulator. A semiproduct of green fuel synthesis with zero carbon balance and synthetic organic chemical products with minus carbon balance (thanks to bonded carbon from atmospheric CO₂). From an economical point the direct use of formic acid would be more rational (with the exception of one stage), without first carbon monoxide separation. From the point of view of the physical chemistry, it is necessary to take into account the relatively low reactivity of formic acid in comparison with carbon monoxide. The traditional way of activation, by applying high temperatures, high pressures and specific catalysts in gas phase. However, using electromagnetic activation may be a more interesting pathway. This aspect will be discussed in this work. The final selection of the method based on the results of bench scale should be made on the basis of a complex criterion of the rate of passage of the modified F-T process and economic indicators: equipment cost, and energy consumption in terms of the mass of final products, taking into account of their cost. In this case, it appears an alternative way of obtaining some final products without using fossil hydrocarbons.

Keywords

Fischer–Tropsch process, formate cycle, green fuel, electromagnetic activation, zero carbon balance