Zr-pillared montmorillonite supported cobalt nanoparticles for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

In this article Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis was studied over cobalt nanoparticles supported on modified Montmorillonite (Zr-PILC). Co-loaded/Zr-PILC catalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal methods and were characterized by XRD, XRF, BET, H2-TPR, TGA and SEM techniques. FT reactions were carried out in fixed bed microreactor (T=225 °C, 260 °C and 275 °C, P=1, 5 and 10 bars). The FT-products obtained over Co-loaded/Zr-PILC catalysts showed increased selectivity of C2-C12 hydrocarbons and decreased selectivity towards CH4 and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons (C21) at a TOS of 2-30 h as compared to the Co-loaded/NaMMT catalysts. With increase in reaction temperature from 225 °C to 275 °C, CO-conversion and CH4 selectivity increases while that of C5+ hydrocarbons decreases. Decrease in CH4 selectivity while increase in C5+ hydrocarbons and CO-conversion were observed on increasing the pressure of reaction.