Novel synthesis routes for clean fuels through ultra-rapid synthesis of syngas as the trigger technology

An innovative steam- and/or CO₂-reforming (Thermo-Neutral Reforming, TNR) was introduced after 30 yr of studies on ultra-rapid catalytic reactions. The reformer could be reduced two-order magnitude compared with traditional steam reformers because the large endothermic heat of reforming is compensated by the large exothermic heat of complete combustion on the same catalyst surface without supply of heat from outside of the reactor. Synthesis gas (syngas) conversion on various modified Fischer-Tropsch synthesis-type catalysts, oxidative coupling of methane, and methanol conversion using zeolite catalysts was performed. The ultra rapid conversion of light olefins, such as ethylene, propylene, and butenes to gasoline was achieved using Fe-silicate having a pentasil pore-opening structure. Highly effective ultra clean fuels such as methanol, dimethyl ether, and sulfur-free and non-aromatic high octane number gasoline could be produced effectively with non-expensive costs. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 14th Saudi-Japan Joint Symposium (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 12/5-6/2004).