Producing supported cobalt catalysts for the fischer-tropsch synthesis

摘要

A process for producing a supported Fischer-Tropsch catalyst includes treating, in an activation stage (12), a particulate pre-reduction cobalt nitrate-based supported Fischer- Tropsch synthesis catalyst precursor containing reducible cobalt oxides, with hydrogen as a reducing gas in order to reduce the cobalt oxides over a period of time to Co, with ammonia and water being formed, the reduction including a time period when predominantly CoO is reduced to Co. Unreacted hydrogen is withdrawn (20), which thus includes water and treated to lower its dewpoint (14). At least a portion of the withdrawn unreacted hydrogen is returned to the activation stage (12) as recycle hydrogen (26). An ammonia concentration is maintained in the activation stage (12), at least during the time when predominantly CoO is reduced to Co, of less than 250 volume parts per million ("vppm").