Abstract
About 1950, nitrided iron catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis were developed at the Bureau of Mines [1, 2], The nitrided iron catalyst was one of only a few developments in Fischer-Tropsch catalysis that was not anticipated by German work in the period 1925–1945. Small-scale investigations have been summarized [3–6]. The present paper presents a brief review of small-scale work; describes the use of nitrides in pilot-plant units of the slurry [7], oil-circulation [8], and fluidized fixed-bed types [9]; and considers schemes for refining the product.