A highly active and stable Fischer-Tropsch synthesis cobalt/silica catalyst with bimodal cobalt particle distribution

Silica-supported cobalt (20 wt%) catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation of silica with different cobalt nitrate solution. The catalyst prepared from dehydrated ethanol solution exhibited highest activity and very low methane selectivity. The catalyst prepared from cyclohexanol had the lowest activity and highest methane selectivity. The catalyst prepared from aqueous solution, a most conventional catalyst, exhibited moderate reaction behavior. The catalyst prepared from dehydrated ethanol had cobalt particles with two different size where the large particles showed low bulk density with cluster-like structure.