Manganese-promoted nanostructured metallic Co/Al2O3 catalysts prepared using auto-combustion procedure without further reduction for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis
摘要
We demonstrate a calcine-and-use, Mn-promoted Co/γ-Al2O3 prepared by single-pot citrate–nitrate auto-combustion that performs in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis without the conventional 600 °C H2 pre-reduction. Compared with a wet-impregnated benchmark (WI), the auto-combustion sample (SC) forms ~ 10 nm Co domains on a 108 m2 g−1 matrix (vs ~ 44 nm on 73 m2 g−1 for WI), and H2-TPR confirms > 90% reducibility below 510 °C, whereas a spinel-bound fraction in WI persists up to 650 °C. Under identical FT conditions (240 °C, 10 bar, H2/CO = 2, GHSV ≈ 3600 h−1), SC converts 40.7% of CO (WI: 24.2%). At steady state (12–50 h TOS; n = 3), selectivities were: SC CH4 30.3%, C5+ 45.6% (STYC5+ 1.66 g h−1 g_cat−1); WI CH4 19.8%, C5+ 62.3% (1.35). Carbon balances closed to 98 ± 2%. The activity gain is attributed to an ≈ 4 × larger surface cobalt inventory associated with ~ 10 nm domains. Eliminating high-temperature pre-reduction simplifies operation and reduces thermal input, providing a ready-to-use Co/Al2O3 route; stability and scale-up are identified as next steps.
Graphical abstract