Invented in 1933 and used by Germany in World War II to produce motor fuel. It was Named after the German chemist Franz Fischer (1852-1932) and the Czech Hans Tropsch (1839-1935).

An industrial method of making hydrocarbon fuels from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Hydrogen and carbon monoxide are mixed in the ratio 21 and passed at 200 °C over a nickel or cobalt catalyst.

The resulting hydrocarbon mixture can be separated into a higher-boiling-fraction for diesel engines and a lower-boiling gasoline fraction.

The gasoline fraction contains a high proportion of straight-chain hydrocarbons and has to be reformed for use in motor fuel.

The process is also used in the manufacture of SNG from coal.