Silica-supported cobalt catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Effects of calcination temperature and support structure

The effects of calcination temperature and silica support structure on silica-supported cobalt FTS catalysts were studied. The catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation of the cobalt precursor using various surface area silica supports. The catalysts had different drying and calcination temperatures. Deionized water was used as preparation medium. Lower surface area and calcination temperature catalysts exhibited higher activity due to lower support-cobalt phase interaction. Co/silica catalysts calcined at 573 K showed the highest CO conversion and the lowest CH4 selectivity. Catalysts with lower surface area exhibited higher C5+ selectivity due to higher reducibility and dispersion. The properties of various catalysts were characterized by FTIR, XRD, BET and XPS techniques.