SYNTHESIS OF HIGH SURFACE AREA COBALT-ON-ALUMINA CATALYSTS BY MODIFICATION WITH ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

摘要

Cobalt catalysts are preferred for the Fischer Tropsch reaction because they give greater yields of straight chain alkanes than iron catalysts [1,2]. The catalysts are typically prepared by cobalt nitrate impregnation, followed by a low temperature drying step and calcination at a higher temperature to decompose cobalt nitrate. The product is a supported cobalt oxide, which is reduced to give the active cobalt metal phase. The cobalt particle size is critical in determining the activity of the final catalyst. Bezemer and co-workers [3] showed that the optimum cobalt particle size for a Co/carbon nanofibre catalyst is 6-8nm.