Mesoporous metallo-silicates as a support of cobalt catalysts for slurry phase Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

Abstract

A series of mesoporous metallo-silicates (M-MPS, M = Al, Mn, V, Zr, and Mo) was synthesized at ambient temperature by utilizing hexadecylpyridinium chloride as a surfactant and was used as the support of cobalt catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis in a slurry phase. The catalysts supported on M-MPS showed a higher selectivity for C₅₊ hydrocarbons and had a higher chain growth probability α, as well as a lower selectivity for CH₄. A good correlation between the selectivity for CH₄ and the standard enthalpy of formation of metal oxides incorporated into the silica framework, –ΔH⁰_f, was obtained and the role of metals incorporated into the silica framework in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis is discussed.