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Article: Fischer-Tropsch: A Green Giant?
- Article from:
- Chemical Week
- Article date:
- September 16, 1998
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Access Intelligence, LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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While research on direct oxidation of methane continues, investment in methanol and gas-to-liquids (GTL) plants is surging as oil companies seek alternatives to venting or flaring remote natural gas supplies.
The renaissance in GTL using Fischer-Tropsch chemistry is focused on production of clean-burning synthetic fuels from natural gas-derived syngas, but GTL plants can also produce lubricants, alcohols, and olefins. Tim Partridge, v.p./Arthur D. Little Canada (Toronto), says GTL plants need to produce at least 50,000 bbl/day to achieve economies of scale, and a single GTL lubricant or alcohol plant that big would flood its market. "Once a GTL plant gets built, it's ...