Enhancing kerosene selectivity in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis with ceria-coated catalysts

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis has emerged as a viable alternative for producing sustainable aviation fuels. In this study, a reference cobalt-based catalyst was modified with ceria to enhance product selectivity towards the kerosene fraction (C₉–C₁₇). The influence of surface-exposed metal was examined. Catalysts were tested in a continuous fixed bed reactor at 20 barg, within the temperature range of 230–260 °C, and feed flow rates of 2000–11 500 N mL g⁻¹ h⁻¹ using both pure syngas and CO₂-enriched syngas. The ceria-modified catalyst demonstrated a substantial +10% increase in selectivity to kerosene, crucial for industrial profitability. Consequently, this catalyst approach produces >40% of the kerosene fraction at 230–245 °C, even under real industrial conditions of CO₂-enriched feed. Specifically, the study indicates that the surface-exposed metal influences catalytic activity, selectivity, and CO₂ conversion. The ceria-coated support exhibited increased CO₂ conversion and reduced methane generation while maintaining comparable kerosene selectivity. Therefore, this study highlights the advantages of using ceria-modified catalysts with CO₂-enriched syngas for sustainable aviation fuel production.