Synergistic Promotion of Co/SiO2 Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts by Niobia and Platinum

Jan H. Den Otter, Sebastiaan R. Nijveld, Krijn P. De Jong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Transition-metal oxides and noble metals are well-known selectivity and activity promoters in cobalt-based Fischer–Tropsch catalysis. Niobia has been shown as an effective selectivity promoter as support material; however, its low porosity limits the cobalt loading. To combine the selectivity-promoting properties of niobia with a highly porous support, niobia-modified silica was prepared and applied as a support for Co and PtCo catalysts with cobalt loadings up to 21 wt %. Niobia promotion was found to increase the C5+ selectivity at 1 bar; however, it appeared to be ineffective at 20 bar. Promotion of Co/SiO2 by a combination of platinum and niobia yielded an increase of the cobalt-weight normalized activity by a factor of 2–3 in the case of amorphous niobia and by a factor of 3–4 with niobia nanocrystals present, due to both an increased number of active sites and an increased cobalt-surface specific activity (turnover frequency).
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1616-1623
Number of pages8
JournalACS Catalysis
Volume6
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Mar 2016

Keywords

  • Fischer-Tropsch
  • activity promotion
  • niobia
  • noble metal
  • selectivity promotion
  • transition-metal oxide

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