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Enhanced Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts for Conversion of Biomass and Coal to Transportation Fuels

Award Information
Agency: Department of Energy
Branch: N/A
Contract: DE-FG02-12ER90413
Agency Tracking Number: 87532
Amount: $150,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: 16 a
Solicitation Number: DE-FOA-0000628
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2012
Award Year: 2012
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2012-06-28
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2013-03-27
Small Business Information
12345 W. 52nd Ave.
Wheat Ridge, CO -
United States
DUNS: 181947730
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Gokhan Alptekin
 Dr.
 (303) 940-2349
 galptekin@tda.com
Business Contact
 John Wright
Title: Mr.
Phone: (303) 940-2300
Email: jdwright@tda.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

Although the FT process is run on a commercial scale in both South Africa and Malaysia, several challenges face the production of liquid fuels from coal, including the attrition resistance of the catalyst and downstream hydrocarbon separation. The FT process could also benefit from a highly selective catalyst to produce desired range of hydrocarbon products. TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) proposes to develop a unique catalytic material to address three technical challenges: FT activity, catalyst selectivity and better heat management. In Phase I we will prepare a novel catalyst that could optimize the gasoline range of paraffins. We will evaluate various formulations to identify their catalytic activity and selectivity, and demonstrate the performance of the best catalyst in a long-duration test under representative conditions. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: A viable alternative to crude oil is needed to moderate the effect of oil price hikes and provide an interim bridge until some other fuel source can commercially supplant petroleum-based fuels. The candidate resources to produce liquid fuels include biomass, oil sands, oil shale and coal, but coal is the most promising resource with over 250 billion tons of known domestic reserves. FT synthesis is the most economically viable method of converting coal into transportation fuels. An active FT synthesis catalysts that is highly selective for diesel and/or gasoline range products could find immediate use in the emerging coal-to-liquids market.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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