METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF A HYDROCARBON SYNTHESIS CATALYST AND THE USE THEREOF IN A HYDROCARBON SYNTHESIS PROCESS

摘要

This invention relates to a method for the preparation of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst, preferably, a Fischer Tropsch synthesis catalyst. The invention also extends to the use of a catalyst prepared by the method according to the invention in a hydrocarbon synthesis process, preferably, a Fischer Tropsch synthesis process. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the preparation of a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst, the method including the steps of: (a) providing a melt including a mixture of at" least one metal iron oxide and a catalyst promoter selected from the group consisting of at least one of a source of an alkali metal and a source of an alkali earth metal; (b) subjecting the melt to a fluid stream so as to thereby disperse the melt into droplets including the metal iron oxide and the catalyst promoter; and (c) quenching the droplets of the melt so as to form the hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst in the form of solid particles including the metal oxide and the catalyst promoter.