FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a three-phase low temperature Fischer-Tropsch process wherein feed CO and H2 are converted to hydrocarbons and, possibly, oxygenates thereof by contacting synthetic gas containing H2 and CO, in the presence of an iron-based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, with gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) in the feed H2 and CO of at least 6000 ml(N)/g catalyst/h, wherein the ratio H2:CO in the starting material ranges from 2.5 to 1, and the iron-based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is activated in steps for: (a) using an iron-based catalyst containing iron in a positive oxidation state; and (b) contacting the iron-based catalyst in a reactor with a reducing gas containing a combination of CO and H2 in molar ratio H2:CO from 100:1 to 1:100, at temperature of at least 245°C but lower than 280°C, reducing gas pressure higher than 0.5 MPa but not higher than 2.2 MPa and at GHSV of the entire gas fed into the reactor of at least 6000 ml(N)/g catalyst/h, thereby reducing the iron which is in a positive oxidation state in the catalyst.
EFFECT: high Fischer-Tropsch reaction activity without loss of stability.
10 cl, 1 tbl, 6 ex
