SYNTHESIS OF HYDROCARBONS FROM METHANOL OVER COBALT-BASED CATALYSTS

Abstract

The research aims to study the conversion of methanol to hydrocarbon over cobalt-based catalyst. The effect of reaction condition on conversion and hydrocarbon selectivity was investigated in batch as well as large scale fixed-bed reactor by using Co/γ-Al2O3. In addition, the catalytic activity of Co supported on various carriers and combination between ZSM-5 and Co/γ-Al2O3 was studied in small scale fixed-bed reactor. In batch reactor, the conversion and yield of total hydrocarbon product using 2% catalyst was reached maximum over catalyst loading of 3% for 2h at 300oC. The catalytic performance of Co/γ-Al2O3 catalyst exhibited the long chain hydrocarbon at 10bar. Over Co/γ-Al2O3, the higher temperature and lower flow rate favored cracking reaction. Furthermore, ZSM-5 supported Co obtained high conversion as well as yield of hydrocarbon. The loading of cobalt is negative effect on methanol conversion. To improve the catalytic activity of Co/γ-Al2O3 by combining with ZSM-5. The separated beds in order of ZSM5 and Co/γ-Al2O3 reached highest methanol conversion in different combination ways. However, it is lower selectivity towards C7+ hydrocarbon but higher by product selectivity than ZSM-5.