The process challenge in syngas conversion is to beat the selectivity problem of methane production or light gasses. The fuel product or chemical application requirement may have additional demands.

The catalytic engineering challenge is to model and control this multiphase process of gas, liquid  and solids. There are large inhomogeneities in catalyst composition and physical properties. Also the concentration and flow profiles will be highly complex. Methods are needed for catalyst synthesis of the complex multi component materials that are accurate on a nanoscale as well as larger scale. There is a need for multiscale modelling, that integrates microkinetics with the response to reaction and flow medium as well as in-situ and ex-situ characterization techniques. Adequate model approaches should be discussed.