Effect of alumina support modification on performance of cobalt and iron catalysts in fischer-tropsch reaction

Abstract

Effect of alumina support modification for applications as cobalt and iron catalyst supports in Fischer-Tropsch reaction were studied. Alumina supports consisting of various gamma to chi ratios were prepared using solvothermal method and employed as supports for cobalt catalysts. In order to identify the characteristics, all the catalysts were characterized using surface area analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy2Energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Temperature programmed reduction (TPR), and hydrogen and carbon monoxide chemisorption. CO hydrogenation (H 2CO = 10/1) was also performed to determine the overall activity and selectivity of the Co/AL O catalysts containing various gamma to chi ratios. It was found that both activity and selectivity were increased with increasing the chi to gamma ratios of the alumina supports. It is suggested that the spherical;-shape like morphology of the -phase AL O provide better stability and dispersion of the Co particles. In addition, the effect of Cu-modification of alumina support for applications as iron catalyst supports in Fischer-Tropsch reaction (H 2CO – 2/1) was also investigated. It was found that the use of copper-modified alumina supports enhanced both reducibilities and the overall activities of Fe/AL O catalysts. However, Cu-modification of alumina support appeared to have no effect on selectivity of the F-T products.