Catalysts for Production of Lower Olefins from Synthesis Gas: A Review

C2 to C4 olefins are traditionally produced from steam cracking of naphtha. The necessity for alternative production routes for these major commodity chemicals via non-oil-based processes has driven research in past times during the oil crises. Currently, there is a renewed interest in producing lower olefins from alternative feedstocks such as coal, natural gas, or biomass, in view of high oil prices, environmental regulations, and strategies to gain independence from oil imports. This review describes the major routes for the production of lower olefins from synthesis gas with an emphasis on a direct or single step process, the so-called FTO or Fischer–Tropsch to olefins process. The different catalysts for FTO are outlined and compared, and the key issues and requirements for future developments are highlighted. Iron-based catalysts are prevailing for FTO, and reproducible lower olefin selectivities of 50 wt % of hydrocarbons produced have been realized at CO conversions higher than 70% for 60 to 1000 h on stream. Remarkably the high selectivity to lower olefins has been achieved over a broad range of process conditions (P, T, H2/CO ratio, GHSV). A major challenge for further development and application of FTO catalysts is the suppression of carbon lay-down to enhance catalyst lifetime and to preserve their physical integrity under demanding reaction conditions.