Óxidos mixtos del tipo CoxOy/ MgO-Al2O3 y su promoción con rutenio como catalizadores para la síntesis Fischer-Tropsch

Abstract

In this work we evaluated the effect of the preparation method (auto-combustion vs impregnation), and of ruthenium as promoter (0.3 wt% Ru) for cobalt-based catalysts (10 wt% Co) supported on MgO-Al2O3 mixed oxides on the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). Cobalt supported on MgO and Al2O3were used as reference catalysts for the mixed oxides. The activity of the catalysts for the FTS was evaluated in a fixed-bed reactor at 260°C and atmospheric pressure. According to the results and independently from the preparation method,cobalt supported on MgO-Al2O3 mixed oxides were more selective to heavy hydrocarbons (C5+) than catalysts supported on single (MgO or Al2O3) oxides. Furthermore, all Ru-promoted catalysts were more active (i.e., had higher conversion) than non-promoted catalysts, and the selectivity to hydrocarbon fractions in the range of gasoline (C5 – C11) and diesel (C12 – C21) increased. In general, the results suggest that Ru-promoted Co/MgO-Al2O3 catalyst is a promising catalytic system for the FTS.