An active Fischer–Tropsch synthesis FeMo/SiO2 catalyst prepared by a modified sol–gel technique

FeMo/SiO2 catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation, sol–gel, or modified sol–gel (MSG) methods. These catalysts were characterized by N2 physisorption, H2 temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) performances of catalysts were evaluated in a fixed-bed reactor at 300 °C, 1.5 MPa, 6 nL/(g of catalyst·h) and H2/CO molar ratio of 2.0. The MSG-derived FeMo/SiO2 catalyst possessed higher surface catalytic sites, smaller iron crystallites, weaker Fe–SiO2 interaction and easier reduction behavior relative to conventional method derived catalysts. The modified catalyst also exhibited higher activity, lower methane selectivity and better stability in FTS reaction.

Graphical AbstractAn FeMo/SiO2 catalysts prepared by a modified sol–gel method exhibited higher activity, lower methane selectivity and better stability in FTS reaction.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch Highlights►The modified sol–gel derived FeMo/SiO2 was different from the conventional sol–gel one in that Fe and Mo ions were incorporated into silica gel after the hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane. ►The MSG-FeMo/SiO2 catalyst provided higher surface catalytic sites than the conventional prepared ones. ►The MSG-FeMo/SiO2 catalyst had high dispersion but weak Fe–SiO2 interaction. ►The MSG-FeMo/SiO2 catalyst exhibited high activity and low methane selectivity in FTS reaction.