Enhancement of Fischer-Tropsch Reaction on Silica Supported Cobalt Catalyst

Abstract

Co/SiO₂ catalyst shows an activity for the Fischer-Tropsch reaction. In order to improve the catalytic activity for the reaction, addition of third component was tried in the Co/SiO₂ catalyst system. When yttrium oxide, cerium oxide, and lanthanum oxide was added to the Co/SiO₂ catalyst, the rate of the Fischer-Tropsch reaction was improved. Particularly, upon doping yttrium oxide to Co/SiO₂, the rate was enhanced 1.7- fold, as much as that in the case using plain Co/SiO₂ catalyst. It was conjectured that the phenomenon was caused by increase active sites which would be induced by third component such as yttrium oxide.