Promoting jet fuel production by utilizing a Ru-doped Co-based catalyst of Ru-Co@C(Z-d)@Void@CeO2 in Fischer Tropsch synthesis

Abstract

In this study, the MOF-derived hollow void catalyst Co@C(Z-d)@Void@CeO2 is promoted using ruthenium (Ru) for application as an efficient catalyst for the Fischer Tropsch synthesis (FTS). The reducibility of Co active sites is significantly improved in the presence of the Ru nanoparticles (NPs), leading to a higher degree of reduction (DOR) and dispersion. Hence, the catalyst performance, i.e., CO conversion, was enhanced by 56% at 12 bar in comparison with the catalyst without Ru. Moreover, the Ru-doped catalyst promotes the jet fuel production yields more than the other FTS products. Remarkably, both the experimental results and the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation confirmed the desired effects, where the calculated Gibbs free energy (ΔG) of paraffinic hydrocarbon formation, particularly in the jet fuel range, was lower in the presence of Ru. The thermal stability of the Ru-doped catalyst was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and confirmed by a dramatic low-performance loss of 4.2% at 17.5 bar during TOS of 192 h.