Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over cobalt dispersed on carbon nanotubes-based supports and activated carbon

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the ones grown on MgO and alumina are used as supports for cobalt catalyst in Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Carbon nanotubes were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition of methane on 5.0 wt.% iron on MgO or alumina at 950 °C. The carbon nanotubes were characterized by SEM and TEM microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Cobalt nitrate was impregnated onto the supports by impregnation, and the samples were dried and reduced in-situ at 400 °C for 12 h, and then FT synthesis was carried out in a fixed-bed reactor. The catalysts were characterized by BET surface area measurement, TPR and TPD. The effect of carbon nanotubes as cobalt support on CO conversion, product selectivity, and olefin to paraffin ratio of FT synthesis was investigated and compared with activated carbon as well as Al₂O₃, as a traditional support. The results revealed that the activity of the Co/CNT catalyst was improved by 22%, compared to the conventional Co/alumina catalysts. Also the cobalt supported on CNTs grown on MgO (Co/CNT–MgO) shows the highest selectivity to C₅₊ as the most desired FTS products. The C₅₊ selectivity enhancement was about 37, 34, 17, and 77% as compared to the Co/CNT, Co/alumina, Co/CNTs-alumina, and Co/activated carbon, respectively. Also the olefin/paraffin ratio on the Co/CNTs-MgO catalyst is about 7.7 times higher than the conventional cobalt catalysts. It seems that the degree of reduction of cobalt is higher when supported on CNTs than on alumina. This leads to higher FTS activity. Also, the particle size distribution of the cobalt is affected by the CNT–MgO support leading to higher C₅₊ selectivity.