Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis with Supported Cobalt Catalyst. Promoting Effects of Lanthanum Oxide for Cobalt/Silica Catalyst

Abstract

The promotional effects of metal oxides for a silica-supported cobalt catalyst were investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Temperature Programmed Reaction (TPR), and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. The La-modified cobalt catalyst with 3% La loading which was prepared by simultaneous impregnation showed higher catalytic activity while keeping slightly higher selectivity of C₂₊ hydrocarbons. TPR, FT-IR, and TEM studies revealed that CO is adsorbed on the La-modified cobalt catalyst in a more active state compared to the monometallic cobalt catalyst, which was caused by the agglomeration of cobalt.