ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: effect of silica on hydrocarbon production over cobalt-based catalysts

Elham Yaghoobpour, Yahya Zamani, Saeed Zarrinpashne, and Akbar Zamaniyan

Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), Tehran, Iran

E-mail: yahyazamani@yahoo.com

Abstract: Support materials have an important role in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalyst and are influenced by various factors. In this paper, the effects of silica augmentation to γ-Al₂O₃ supported cobalt material on morphology and performance of catalyst have been studied. A series of catalysts, contain 0, 5, 10, and 15 wt % SiO₂, were prepared using the incipient wetness impregnation method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by various techniques such as BET, H₂-TPR, XRD, and HRTEM. Then, the catalysts were tested in a fixed-bed reactor. The results showed that the addition of SiO₂ material remarkably promoted the catalyst performance in terms of CO conversion, catalyst activity, and consequently catalytic yield. Among the synthesized catalysts, the catalyst with 10 wt% silica demonstrated an optimum silica addition to achieve the highest catalyst performance.

Keywords: Fischer–Tropsch synthesis ; Cobalt catalyst ; γ-Alumina support ; Silica effect 

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-018-0565-9

Chemical Papers 73 (1) 205–214 (2019)