The impact of different alumina supports on cobalt-catalyzed Fischer–Tropsch synthesis and investigation of kinetic model for the catalyst with optimum performance

This study investigated three different types of catalysts: (i) Co/Al 2 O 3 –FSM16, (ii) Co/synthesized mesoporous Al 2 O 3 , and (iii) Co/conventional mesoporous Al 2 O 3 prepared by incipient wetness impregnation of the cobalt precursor and used in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS). The obtained catalysts were characterized by ICP-MS, XRD, H 2 -TPR, BET, TEM and H 2 chemisorption techniques. The results of characterizations clearly showed the changes of morphology of the supports. The catalyst were tested in a fixed bed reactor under realistic conditions. The results showed that, the highest pore volume and the smallest cobalt particles size related to synthesized mesoporous Al 2 O 3 and Co/synthesized mesoporous Al 2 O 3 . However, Co/Al 2 O 3 –FSM16 indicated the narrowest particles size range (2–26 nm). The catalysts activity and selectivity tests showed that the proposed Co/Al 2 O 3 –FSM16 increased the FTS rate from 0.13 to 0.18 g HC/g cat ./h. In addition, C5 + selectivity increased up to 9%. On the other hand, ALSM decreased the CO conversion by 7%. Kinetic data were measured for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) on Co/Al 2 O 3 –FSM16 at various partial pressures of CO and H 2 and at three different temperatures (210, 220 and 230 °C) and pressures (12, 16 and 20 bar). The results of modeling showed that Percentage of data that has absolute relative residual (ARR) less than 25 (P 25% ) is 67%.