The modification of titanium in mesoporous silica for Co-based Fischer–Tropsch catalysts

Ordered SBA-15 mesoporous silica with incorporated titanium was successfully synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal crystallization method. The characterization including powder X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, transmission electron microscope, temperature-programmed reduction, temperature-programmed desorption, Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet-visible-near infrared spectrometer was performed to explore the physical and chemical structures of both the supports and the catalysts. The results showed that titanium was successfully incorporated into the mesoporous silica framework with a limited amount of titanium (Si/Ti > 20), and the mesoporous structure was retained. However, the increased titanium content inevitably resulted in the formation of anatase TiO ₂ particles on the support surface. The increased incorporated titanium strengthened the interactions between cobalt species and supports, which was favorable for the cobalt species dispersion, despite the limited cobalt oxide reducibility. The enhanced metal-support interactions were beneficial for the CO/H₂ ratio at the active cobalt sites, which facilitated the formation of more C₅₊ hydrocarbons. This study provides a promising method for support modification with incorporated-heteroatoms for the rational development of Fischer–Tropsch catalysts.