Production of C4 hydrocarbons from Fischer–Tropsch synthesis in a follow bed reactor consisting of Co–Ni–ZrO2 and sulfated-ZrO2 catalyst beds

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis was performed in a fixed-bed microreactor over a single bed consisting of Co–Ni–ZrO2 catalyst as well as over a follow bed configuration consisting of Co–Ni–ZrO2 and sulfated-ZrO2 catalyst beds for the selective production of C4 hydrocarbons. A maximum C4 hydrocarbon selectivity of 14.6 wt.% was obtained using the single bed approach at 250°C and weight hourly space velocities (WHSV) of 15 h−1. When a follow bed approach was used, there was an impressive increase in the selectivity for C4 hydrocarbons to a maximum of 24 wt.% and that for iso-C4 hydrocarbons to a maximum of 13.8 wt.% from 14.6 and 5.5 wt.%, respectively. However, there was a rapid deactivation of the sulfated-ZrO2 catalyst due to coking and sulfate reduction.