Cobalt-Catalyzed Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis: Chemical Nature of the Oxide Support as a Performance Descriptor

Abstract

The effect of the chemical nature of the oxide support on the performance of cobalt Fischer–Tropsch catalysts is investigated. A series of supports is synthesized via monolayer coverage of porous γ-Al2O3 with various oxides representative of a wide range of Lewis acid–base character, as quantified by UV–vis spectroscopy coupled to alizarin adsorption. Incorporation of cobalt (20 wt %) results in model catalysts with identical porosities and similar Co particle sizes (>10 nm), allowing the study of support effects without overlap from diffusional or particle size factors. Under realistic reaction conditions, the initial TOF scales with the acidity of the oxide support, whereas the cobalt time yield and selectivity to industrially relevant C13+ hydrocarbons show a volcano dependence, with a maximum at an intermediate acid–base character. As inferred from in situ CO-FTIR, “selective” blockage of a few cobalt sites, though crucial for CO hydrogenation, by atoms from basic oxides and “unselective” site blockag...