The department of heterogeneous catalysis is focused on the development of technologies for the production of synthetic hydrocarbons from various feedstocks: natural gases (GTL technology), coal (CTL technology), biomass (BTL technology). Currently, GTL technology is considered as an alternative method for obtaining motor fuels and raw materials for chemical production from natural and associated petroleum gas. In the world, industrial GTL technology has been implemented by Sasol (Sasolburg, Secunda, South Africa), Shell (Bintulu, Malaysia, Qatar), Sasol/QP (Ros-Laffan, Qatar), PetroSA (Mossel Bay, South Africa).
In Russia, this technology existed from the late 1950s to the early 2000s at the Novocherkassk Plant of Synthetic Products (NZSP) and has now been lost.
The staff of the Research Institute "Nanotechnologies and New Materials" has been dealing with this topic since 1980, during which time considerable experience has been accumulated in the field of improving this technology, synthesizing high-performance catalysts, and processing synthesis products.
The team includes leading employees who managed the industrial production of synthetic hydrocarbons at ZAO Novocherkassk Plant of Synthetic Products.
The research institute has developed two variants of the GTL technology:
- Production of synthetic waxes and isoparaffin oils based on them (Heavy GTL);
- Production of light synthetic oil and high-quality fuels (gasoline, kerosene, diesel) based on it (Light GTL).
Technologies are being developed to convert coal (CTL) and biomass (BTL) into synthetic hydrocarbons.