The effects of cerium promoter on the performance of cobalt-based catalysts in fischer tropsch synthesis for liquid fuel production

Abstract

An intensive work of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) on a cobalt-based catalyst supported with cerium as a promoter was presented. The influence of space velocity and inlet gas feed ratio on FTS reaction performance was studied for the synthesized catalysts. Incipient wetness impregnation method was utilized to synthesis both unpromoted (25%Co/γ-Al2O3) and cerium promoted (1%Ce-25%Co/γ-Al2O3) catalysts. The proposed catalysts were examined by N2 adsorption and temperatureprogramed reduction (TPR). The performance of Ce-promoted and unpromoted cobaltbased catalysts in FTS was assessed in terms of activity and selectivity to desired products (C5+). The obtained results revealed that the addition of cerium by impregnation notably favours the reducibility of cobalt oxides by reducing the reduction temperature. In addition, the promoted catalysts exhibited higher activity and selectivity toward desired products at low space velocity and high inlet gas feed ratio as compared with the unpromoted catalysts. In conclusion, a cerium based cobalt catalyst considered as a suitable candidate to be used in gas to the liquid conversion process.