Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over silica supported cobalt catalysts: mesoporous structure versus cobalt surface density Original Research Article

The effect of support mesoporous structure and cobalt content on cobalt dispersion and reducibility was studied using two series of Fischer–Tropsch (FT) silica supported cobalt catalysts. The first series of the catalysts was supported by an SBA-15 periodic mesoporous silica with narrow pore size distribution, the second series was supported by a commercial mesoporous silica with broader pore size distribution. It was shown that in a wide range of cobalt surface densities (0–50 Co/nm2), cobalt dispersion in silica supported catalysts was largely influenced by support texture. Cobalt dispersion was higher in Co catalysts supported by the SBA-15 silica with a pore diameter of 9.1 nm than in the commercial mesoporous silica with an average pore diameter of 33 nm. A more than 10-fold increase in cobalt surface density did not result in any noticeable sintering of Co3O4 particles in SBA-15 periodic mesoporous silicas; the cobalt dispersion seems to be maintained by catalyst mesoporous structure. The effect of support pore diameter on cobalt dispersion was less significant for the catalysts supported by commercial silicas with broader pore size distribution.At the range of cobalt surface densities from 5 to 15 Co/nm2, higher Fischer–Tropsch reaction rates were observed over cobalt catalysts supported by the SBA-15 periodic mesoporous silica. This effect was attributed to higher cobalt dispersion in these catalysts. An increase in cobalt surface densities did lead to any significant changes in hydrocarbon selectivities and in chain growth probabilities for both series of supported catalysts.