Synthesis of higher alcohols by the Fischer–Tropsch reaction over activated carbon supported CoCuMn catalysts

Abstract

Activated carbon supported CoCuMn catalysts prepared by incipient co-impregnation were studied using the Fischer–Tropsch reaction, XRD, HR-TEM, and H₂-TPR techniques. The results showed that good activities and selectivities towards C₁–C₁₄ alcohols can be obtained with the fractions of C₂–C₅ alcohols up to 80% in total alcohol distribution. It was found that increasing the Cu/Co composition ratio resulted in the enhancement of alcohol selectivity. Furthermore, our characterizations revealed that large Cu nano-particles were decorated by small spherical Co nano-particles; moreover, we speculate that such constructions were responsible for the favored formation of C₂₊ alcohols. It was also considered that smaller cobalt particles probably resulted in a greater number of Co⁰ species and thus contributed to the improvement of CO conversion.