Research & Development

Research & Development

Research and development on theoretical and fundamental issues impacting conversion processes is led by the R&D branch of our parent company. All technological services provided by Synfuels Americas are originally developed from fundamental research, tested at the pilot scale, and then expanded to commercial-scale technology.

Key areas of basic research include:

  • The chemical preparation of the catalysts
  • Catalytic reaction engineering
  • Selective hydrocarbon product distribution
  • Control theory and methodology
  • Detailed elementary reaction kinetic experiments using models
  • The active phase structure and theoretical calculations of quantum chemistry
  • The structural characterization of the catalysts

Process Research

General technology and plant process simulation and modeling research is critical for developing technology at the frontier of the energy conversion industry.

  • Optimizing synthetic gas for the Fischer-Tropsch process
  • Dynamic mechanisms
  • Reactor simulation and modeling
  • Process simulation software development
  • Basic physical data and thermodynamic modeling
  • Industrial ecology modeling

Thorough research is conducted related to a wide range of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and product refining processes.

  • Recycling of lighter components
  • Synthetic oil and heavy wax hydrotreating
  • Heavy wax fractionation, hydrogenation, and cracking
  • Product recovery and purification
  • Separation and purification of synthetic products and other fuels
  • Fischer-Tropsch synthesized oil hydrogenation process
  • Fischer-Tropsch wax hydrocracking technology
  • Manufacturing diesel via hydrogenation catalyst technology
  • Non-curing system hydrotreating processes
  • Thermal cracking of naphtha to light olefins technology
  • Production of light olefins using middle distillates techniques
  • Synthetic wax production
  • Aqueous phase refining process technology
  • Engineering research of separation of byproducts (alcohols, aldehydes, acids, etc.)