Characterization and catalytic behavior of Fischer–Tropsch catalysts derived from different cobalt precursors

Abstract

Abstract Catalytic performance is sensitive to the catalyst preparation method and type of catalyst precursor. To investigate the effect of catalyst precursors on physicochemical properties and efficiency of Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) process, SiO2-supported Co catalysts were synthesized via an incipient wetness impregnation method from four different precursors: Co(NO3)2 (Co-Nit), Co(C2H3O2)2 (Co-Ace), CoCl2 (Co-Chl), and Co(OH)2 (Co-Hyd). Our study reveals the type of Co precursor used during synthesis has significant effects on catalyst dispersion, size, crystalline phase, reducibility, stability, and FTS performance. In particular, catalysts derived from Co(NO3)2 and Co(OH)2 show superior CO conversion and C5+ selectivity than those from Co(C2H3O2)2 and CoCl2, which is consistent with their reducibility. C5+ selectivity increases in the following order: Co-Chl