Influence of Co Precursor and Pt Additive on Catalytic Performance of Highly Active Co/SiO₂-based Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Catalysts

Abstract

The effect of Co precursor and Pt additive on catalytic activity was investigated for Co/SiO₂ catalysts used for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. FT reaction activity of Co/SiO₂ prepared using Co acetate as Co precursor was not high, but it was improved notably by adding small amount of Pt. It was found that small Co particles, which were hard to be reduced, were formed in the catalyst prepared using Co acetate. It is believed that the enhanced activity by Pt additive was mainly attributed to the improved reduction of small Co particles due to the added Pt. In addition, although the activity of Pt-Co/SiO₂ prepared using Co acetate as precursor was extremely high, but the selectivity of C₅₊ hydrocarbons was relatively low because of smaller Co particle size, and consequently there was no much difference on C₅₊ hydrocarbons productivity when the Co precursor was varied.