Activity and selectivity enhancement of silica supported cobalt catalyst for alcohols production from syngas via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Abstract

Synthesis of mixed alcohols together with clean fuels from syngas via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is an attractive route for the utilization of coal, natural gas and biomass. In this work, a monometallic cobalt catalyst (Co/SiO2-EOAM) was synthesized by impregnation using ethanolamine modified silica pellet as support and employed for the conversion of syngas. The combustion of carbon and nitrogen species during the calcination of catalyst facilitated the interaction between cobalt and support, which promoted the cobalt dispersion while inhibited the reduction of cobalt oxide. The Co/SiO2-EOAM catalyst exhibited much higher activity and selectivity to alcohols compared to un-modified silica supported cobalt catalyst (Co/SiO2). The higher activity was resulted from the improved cobalt dispersion. The co-existence of abundant metallic cobalt and Co2+ species were responsible for the increasing of alcohols selectivity.