A comparison of cobalt and iron based slurry phase Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

•Cobalt catalysts are more active than iron catalysts on a weight basis.•The reaction rate over iron is more responsive to pressure than cobalt.•The selectivity of cobalt is very sensitive to changes in process conditions.•The metal crystallite size appears to be important for both types of catalyst.•Cobalt can tolerate much higher water partial pressures than iron.

This article provides a comparison between cobalt and iron catalysts for use in the slurry phase Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. The themes covered include the typical catalyst preparation methods and properties, catalyst deactivation behaviour, reaction kinetic considerations and the effect of metal crystallite size on catalytic performance. Finally, the implications of catalyst choice for application in different reactors are discussed, paying specific attention to the maximum production capacity of a single reactor.

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