Design of Mixed Metal Oxides with Increased Catalytic Activity for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

Two sets of Co-Ni/SiO2 and Co-Ni/Al2O3 catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis were synthesized by a new method of thermal decomposition of inorganic precursors and by a standard impregnation method, the latter used as a reference method. The inorganic precursors necessary for the thermal decomposition were based on a new complex formulated as [Co1.68Ni1.32(btc)(2)(H2O)(14)]center dot 4H(2)O and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, and the single crystal analysis. The synthesized and reference catalysts were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and BET. Their catalytic performances were evaluated in the fixed bed micro reactor for running the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). According to the results, the new method based on thermal decomposition of inorganic precursors is superior to the impregnation method, giving rise to more active catalysts with larger active area. Graphic