The performance of carbon-supported
cobalt catalysts was compared
with that of Co/γ-Al2O3 reference catalysts
for the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction. The carbon
support (CS) was prepared using a hydrothermal method that formed
mostly spherical ∼300–800 nm carbons that were first
carbonized at 900 °C and then partially graphitized at 1900 °C.
The FTS study was conducted using a continuously stirred tank reactor,
and the cobalt catalysts were promoted with Pt (0.2% Pt–10%
Co) to facilitate the reduction of cobalt oxides. Catalysts were prepared
by an evaporative method (Co/CS-IWI) and by a chemical vapor deposition
technique (Co/CS-CVD). The CVD technique led to a higher CO conversion
(26.5%) relative to the conventional evaporative (IWI) method (7.4%)
at the same temperature (220 °C) and space velocity (1.5 NL/gcath). Remarkably, the Co/CS-CVD displayed a high oxygenate
selectivity (∼10%) in comparison with cobalt alumina catalysts
(i.e., including one having similar Pt and Co loadings, as well as
a conventional cobalt alumina catalyst with a higher Co loading of
25% Co) at similar conversion levels. The difference in the CO conversion
on a per gram catalyst basis observed between Co/CS-IWI and Co/CS-CVD
catalysts was due to the smaller average Co particle size and more
uniform distribution resulting from the CVD method.
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