Influence of Preparation Methods on Catalytic Performance of Double Mesoporous Co-Based Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

A series of cobalt-based catalyst samples supported on double mesoporous MCM-41 for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) were prepared using three methods, incipient-wetness impregnation (IWI), vapor-induced hydrolysis (VIH), and excessive impregnation (El). The catalyst samples were characterized by N-2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (H-2-TPR) and Raman spectroscopy. The N-2 physisorption results showed that the samples prepared by IWI and VIH retained the double mesoporous character, and the cobalt particles were mainly located in the pore. The FTS results showed that the reducibility and dispersion of active species of the samples prepared by IWI and EI were very high. The catalyst prepared by IWI had the smallest Co3O4 crystallite size and the highest dispersion and showed higher FTS activity, lower CH4 selectivity and higher C5+ selectivity.