Comparing the deactivation behaviour of Co/CNT and Co/γ-Al2O3 nano catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

An extensive study of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis on cobalt nano particles supported on γ-alumina and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) catalysts is reported.20 wt% of cobalt is loaded on the supports by impregnation method.The deactivation of the two catalysts was studied at 220 C,2 MPa and 2.7 L/h feed flow rate using a fixed bed micro-reactor.The calcined fresh and used catalysts were characterized extensively and different sources of catalyst deactivation were identified.Formation of cobalt-support mixed oxides in the form of xCoO yAl2O3 and cobalt aluminates formation were the main sources of the Co/γ-Al2O3 catalyst deactivation.However sintering and cluster growth of cobalt nano particles are the main sources of the Co/CNTs catalyst deactivation.In the case of the Co/γ-Al2O3 catalyst,after 720 h on stream of continuous FT synthesis the average cobalt nano particles diameter increased from 15.9 to 18.4 nm,whereas,under the same reaction conditions the average cobalt nano particles diameter of the Co/CNTs increased from 11.2 to 17.8 nm.Although,the initial FT activity of the Co/CNTs was 26% higher than that of the Co/γ-Al2O3,the FT activity over the Co/CNTs after 720 h on stream decreased by 49% and that over the Co/γ-Al2O3 by 32%.For the Co/γ-Al2O3 catalyst 6.7% of total activity loss and for the Co/CNTs catalyst 11.6% of total activity loss cannot be recovered after regeneration of the catalyst at the same conditions of the first regeneration step.It is concluded that using CNTs as cobalt catalyst support is beneficial in carbon utilization as compared to γ-Al2O3 support,but the Co/CNTs catalyst is more susceptible for deactivation.     

Effect of catalyst confinement and pore size on Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over cobalt supported on carbon nanotubes

This paper studies the impact of structure of cobalt catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes(CNT) on the activity and product selectivity of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis(FTS) reaction.Three types of CNT with average pore sizes of 5,11,and 17 nm were used as the supports.The catalysts were prepared by selectively impregnating cobalt nanoparticles either inside or outside CNT.The TPR results indicated that the catalyst with Co particles inside CNT was easier to be reduced than those outside CNT,and the reducibility of cobalt oxide particles inside the CNT decreased with the cobalt oxide particle size increasing.The activity of the catalyst with Co inside CNT was higher than that of catalysts with Co particles outside CNT.Smaller CNT pore size also appears to enhance the catalyst reduction and FTS activity due to the little interaction between cobalt oxide with carbon and the enhanced electron shift on the non-planar carbon tube surface.     

Performance enhancement of bimetallic Co-Ru/CNTs nano catalysts using microemulsion technique

Bimetallic cobalt-ruthenium nano catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes(CNTs)are prepared using microemultion technique with water-to-surfactant ratios of 0.5—1.5.The nano catalysts were extensively characterized by different methods and their activity and selectivity in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis(FTS)have been assessed in a fixed-bed microreactor.The physicochemical properties and performance of the nanocatalysts were compared with the catalyst prepared by impregnation method.Very narrow particle size distribution has been produced by the microemulsion technique at relatively high loadings of active metals(15 wt%Co and 1 wt%Ru).According to TEM images,small Co particles(2—7 nm)were mostly confined inside the CNTs.Comparing with the catalyst prepared by impregnation,the use of microemulsion technique with water to surfactant ratio of 0.5 decreased the average cobalt oxide particle size to 4.8 nm,the dispersion was almost doubled and the reduction increased by 28%.Activity and selectivity were found to be dependent on the catalyst preparation method and water-to-surfactant ratio(as well as cobalt particle sizes).CO conversion increased from 59.1%to 75.1%and the FTS rate increased from 0.291 to0.372 gHC/(gcath).C5+liquid hydrocarbons selectivity decreased from 92.4%to 87.6%.     

Study of Dibenzothiophene Adsorption Over Carbon Nanotube Supported CoMo HDS Catalysts

Adsorption properties of dibenzothiophene (DBT) on a CNT (carbon nanotube) support as well as on CoMoS/CNT and CoMoO/CNT catalysts have been studied. Consecutive desorption of adsorbates was measured by TGA. The commonly used carriers AC (activated carbon), γ-Al2O3, and their supported catalysts (CoMoO/AC, CoMoS/AC, CoMoO/γ-Al2O3, CoMoS/γ-Al2O3) were also subjected to analysis for comparison. The acidic properties of the samples were characterized using the NH3-TPD technique.Correlation between the adsorption of DBT and the acidic properties of the catalysts has been established.It was found that the Co-Mo catalysts in the sulfide state adsorbed much more DBT molecules than the corresponding Co-Mo catalysts in the oxide state. The CoMoS/CNT catalyst exhibited very high HDS activity and selectivity, as compared with the CoMoS/γ-Al2O3 catalysts. Based on the BET data and the high hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation selectivity of the CoMoS/CNT, it was deduced that more than 90% of the DBT molecules adsorbed on the CoMoS/CNT with an end-on mode, and the surface of the CoMoS/CNT catalyst was almost fully covered with DBT molecules. Although the AC support had very high surface area and high loading ability, the AC supported CoMoS catalyst showed lower HDS activity,as compared with the CoMoS/γ-Al2O3 catalyst.     

States of Carbon Nanotube Supported Mo-Based HDS Catalysts

The dispersion of the active phase and loading capacity of the Mo species on carbon nanotube (CNT) was studied by the XRD technique. The reducibility properties of Co-Mo catalysts in the oxide state over CNTs were investigated by TPR, while the sulfided Co-Mo/CNT catalysts were characterized by means of the XRD and LRS techniques. The activity and selectivity with respect to the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) performances on carbon nanotube supported Co-Mo catalysts were evaluated. It was found that the main active molybdenum species in the oxide state MoO3/CNT catalysts were MoO2, but not MoO3, as generally expected. The maximum loading before the formation of the bulk phase was lower than 6% (percent by mass, based on MoO3). TPR studies revealed that the active species in the oxide state Co-Mo/CNT catalysts were reduced more easily at relatively lower temperatures in comparison to those of the Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3 catalysts, indicating that the CNT support promoted or favored the reduction of the active species. The active species of a Co-Mo-0.7/CNT catalyst were more easily reduced than those of the Co-Mo/CNT catalysts with Co/Mo atomic ratios of 0.2, 0.35, and 0.5, respectively, suggesting that the Co/Mo atomic ratio has a great effect on the reducibility of the active species. It was found that the incorporation of cobalt improved the dispersion of the molybdenum species on the support, and a phenomenon of mobilization and re-dispersion had occurred during the sulfurization process, resulting in low valence state Mo3S4 and Co-MoS2.17 active phases. HDS measurements showed that the Co-Mo/CNT catalysts were more active than the Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3 ones for the desulfurization of DBT, and the hydrogenolysis/hydrogenation selectivity of the Co-Mo/CNT catalysts was also much higher than those of the Co-Mo/γ-Al2O3. The Co-Mo/CNT catalyst with a Co/Mo atomic ratio of 0.7 showed the highest activity, whereas the catalyst with a Co/Mo atomic ratio of 0.35 had the highest selectivity.     

Fischer–Tropsch synthesis on impregnated cobalt-based catalysts:New insights into the effect of impregnation solutions and pH value

The Co-based catalysts were prepared with different cobalt acetate solutions. Effects of p H value were studied deeply on Fischer–Tropsch synthesis(FTS) through a semi-batch reactor. Among all impregnation solutions(water, butanol, amyl alcohol, acetic acid, nitric acid and ammonium nitrate), the catalyst prepared by NH_4NO_3 solution showed the highest catalytic activity due to its small particle size and high reduction degree. However, the catalyst with the smallest particle size derived from water as impregnation solution exhibited low activity as well as high methane selectivity since it was difficult to be reduced and inactive in FTS. According to FT-IR spectra results, the low intensity of absorbed CO on the catalyst prepared from water solution resulted in low FTS activity. Whereas, the high activity of catalysts prepared from NH_4NO_3 solution could be explained by the high intensity of absorbed CO on the catalysts.The cobalt species on the catalysts prepared under lower p H conditions exhibited smaller particle size distribution as well as lower CO conversion than those prepared at higher p H value.     

Catalytic properties of Cu-Co catalysts supported on HNO3-pretreated CNTs for higher-alcohol synthesis

HNO 3 -pretreated CNTs were employed as supports, and a special ultrasound-assisted impregnation method was designed to prepare supported Cu-Co catalysts for higher-alcohol synthesis from syngas. The catalysts used in this work were characterized by N 2 adsorption-desorption, TEM, XRD, H 2 -TPR, CO-TPD techniques. It was found that the pre-treatment procedure of CNTs remarkably promoted the catalytic properties of the Cu-Co/CNTs catalysts. For the Cu-Co catalyst supported on CNTs pre-treated by 68 wt% HNO 3 , some active components were introduced into the CNTs channels, their dispersions and the amount of strongly adsorbed CO-species were improved. The CO conversion and alcohol yield on the HNO 3 -pretreated Cu-Co/CNTs catalyst were increased by ～21% and ～69%, respectively, compared with those on the normal Cu-Co/CNTs catalyst.     

Selective conversion of furfural to cyclopentanol over cobalt catalysts in one step

A series of cobalt catalysts with different supports were prepared for the selective conversion of biomassderived furfural to cyclopentanol(CPL) in one step.The best CPLyield was 82 mol%at 160 ℃,2 MPa H_2,4 h when cobalt was supported on ZrO_2-La_2O_3.The supports were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD)and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia(NH_3-TPD).The XRD results indicated that the more stable t-ZrO_2 formed by doping La_2O_3.The amount of acid sites of the catalyst increased,too.The influences of parameters such as reaction temperature,hydrogen pressure,and reaction time on the catalytic activity were also investigated.The polymer formed during the reaction may cause the deactivation of the Co/ZrO_2-La_2O_3 catalyst.This work provides a possibility to prepare the stable t-ZrO_2and apply with cobalt metal for biomass valorization.     

Carbon nanotubes decorated α-Al2O3 containing cobalt nanoparticles for Fischer-Tropsch reaction

A new hierarchical composite consisted of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) layer anchored on macroscopic α-Al2O3 host matrix was synthesized and used as support for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). The composite constituted by a thin shell of a homogeneous, highly entangled and structure-opened carbon nanotubes network and it exhibited a relatively high and fully accessible specific surface area of 76 m 2 g-1 , compared with that of 5 m 2 g-1 of the original α-Al2O3 support. The metal-support interaction between carbon nanotubes surface and cobalt precursor and high effective surface area led to a relatively high dispersion of cobalt nanoparticles. This hierarchically supported cobalt catalyst exhibited a high FTS activity along with an extremely high selectivity towards liquid hydrocarbons compared with the cobalt-based catalyst supported on pristine α-Al2O3 or on CNTs carriers. This improvement can attribute to the high accessibility of composite surface area comparing with the macroscopic host structure alone or to the bulk CNTs where the nanoscopic dimension induced a dense packing with low mass transfer which favoured the problem of reactants competitive diffusion towards the cobalt active site. In addition, intrinsic thermal conductivity of decorated CNTs could help the heat dissipating throughout the catalyst body, thus avoiding the formation of local hot spots which appeared in high CO conversion under pure syngas feed in FTS reaction. Cobalt supported on CNTs decorated α-Al2O3 catalyst also exhibited satisfied high stability during more than 200 h on stream under relatively severe conditions compared with other catalysts reported in the literature. Finally, the macroscopic shape of such composite easily rendered its usage as catalyst support in a fixed-bed configuration without facing problems of transport and pressure drop as encountered with the bulk CNTs.     

Investigation on the Performance of Supported Molybdenum Carbide for the Partial Oxidation of Methane

The performance of uspported and unsupported molybdenum carbide for the partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas was investgated.An evaluation of the catalysts indicates that bulk molybdenum carbied has a higher methane conversion during the initial stage but a lower selectivity to CO and H2/CO ratio in the products.The rapid deactivation of the catalyst is also a significant problem.However,the supported molybdenum carbide catalyst shows a much higher methane conversion,increased selectivity and significantly improved catalytic stability.The characterization by XRD and BET specific area measurements depict an improved dispersion of molybdenum carbide when using alumina as a carrier.The bulk or the supported molybdenum carbide exists in the β-Mo2C phase,while it is transformed into molybdenum dioxide postcatalysis which is an improtant cause of molybdenum carbide deactivation.     

SMFs-supported Pd nanocatalysts in selective acetylene hydrogenation:Pore structure-dependent deactivation mechanism

In the present study,CNFs,ZnO and Al2O3 were deposited on the SMFs panels to investigate the deactivation mechanism of Pd-based catalysts in selective acetylene hydrogenation reaction.The examined supports were characterized by SEM,NH3-TPD and N2adsorption-desorption isotherms to indicate their intrinsic characteristics.Furthermore,in order to understand the mechanism of deactivation,the resulted green oil was characterized using FTIR and SIM DIS.FTIR results confirmed the presence of more unsaturated constituents and then,more branched hydrocarbons formed upon the reaction over alumina-supported catalyst in comparison with the ones supported on CNFs and ZnO,which in turn,could block the pores mouths.Besides the limited hydrogen transfer,N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms results supported that the lowest pore diameters of Al2O3/SMFs close to the surface led to fast deactivation,compared with the other catalysts,especially at higher temperatures.     

Recent Technological Developments in Cobalt Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

Co-based catalysts are often utilized due to their high Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FT) activity, G5+ hydrocarbon selectivity, low water-gas shift reaction (WGS) activity and relatively low cost. Selective control of C5+ hydrocarbons and the catalyst longevity are critical in the design of cobalt catalysts. Thus, various methods to improve the performance of Co catalysts have been suggested. The progress in cobalt catalysts reviewed in the last few decades, mainly involved the support, promoter, preparation and deactivation of Co-based catalysts.     

Synthesis and characterization of niobium-promoted cobalt/iron catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes for the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide

Bimetallic Co /Fe catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes( CNTs) were prepared,and niobium( Nb) was added as promoter to the 70 Co ∶30Fe /CNT catalyst. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized,and the catalytic performances were analyzed at the same operation conditions( H_2 ∶CO( volume ratio) = 2 ∶1,p = 1 MPa,and t = 260 ℃) in a tubular fixed-bed microreactor system. The addition of Nb to the bimetallic catalyst decreases the average size of the oxide nanoparticles and improves the reducibility of the bimetallic catalyst. Evaluation of the catalyst performance in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction shows that the catalyst results in high selectivity to methane,and the selectivity to C_(5+) increased slightly in the bimetallic catalyst unlike that in the monometallic catalysts. The addition of 1% Nb to the bimetallic catalyst increases CO conversion and selectivity to C_(5+). Meanwhile,a decrease in methane selectivity is observed.     

Preparation of AgBiVMoO/γ-Al_2O_3 Catalysts for the Partial Oxidation of Propane to Acrylic Acid by the Mixed Sol Method

A novel mixed sol method was developed for the preparation of supported catalysts. Analyses by means of XRD and BET show that a 40%AgBiVMoO/γ-Al2O3 catalyst prepared by this method possessed high specific surface area and high dispersion of the active phase. As a result, high acrylic acid selectivity of 8.5% was obtained when the catalyst was used in the reaction of propane partial oxidation to acrylic acid in a fixed-bed reactor.     

Stability and activity of carbon nanofiber-supported catalysts in the aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol

Nickel, cobalt, copper and platinum nanoparticles supported on carbon nano-fibers were evaluated with respect to their stability, catalytic activity and selectivity in the aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol (230 C, autogenous pressure, batch reactor). The initial surface-specific activities for ethylene glycol reforming were in a similar range but decreased in the order of Pt (15.5 h1 ) >Co(13.0 h1 ) >Ni(5.2 h1 ) while the Cu catalyst only showed low dehydrogenation activity. The hydrogen molar selectivity decreased in the order of Pt (53%)>Co(21%)>Ni (15%) as a result of the production of methane over the latter two catalysts. Over the Co catalyst acids were formed in the liquid phase while alcohols were formed over Ni and Pt. Due to the low pH of the reaction mixture, especially in the case of Co (as a result of the formed acids), significant cobalt leaching occurs which resulted in a rapid deactivation of this catalyst. Investigations of the spent catalysts with various techniques showed that metal particle growth is responsible for the deactivation of the Pt and Ni catalysts. In addition, coking might also contribute to the deactivation of the Ni catalyst.     

Support effects on the chemical property and catalytic activity of Co-Mo HDS catalyst in sulfur recovery

Effects of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and alumina (γ-Al2O3) supports on the catalytic activities of hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process over CoMo catalyst have been studied. XRD results indicated that the main active phases in CNT and γ-Al2O3 supported Co-Mo catalysts are MoO2 and MoO3, respectively. The TPR results reveal that the reduction peak temperatures of the active species on CNT supported Co-Mo catalyst is lower than those on alumina supported Co-Mo catalyst, indicating that the CNT supports favor the r...     

Ni/Al2O3 catalysts for CO methanation: Effect of Al2O3 supports calcined at different temperatures

The correlation between phase structures and surface acidity of Al2O3 supports calcined at different temperatures and the catalytic performance of Ni/Al2O3 catalysts in the production of synthetic natural gas(SNG) via CO methanation was systematically investigated. A series of 10 wt% NiO/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by the conventional impregnation method, and the phase structures and surface acidity of Al2O3 supports were adjusted by calcining the commercial γ-Al2O3 at different temperatures(600–1200 C). CO methanation reaction was carried out in the temperature range of 300–600 C at different weight hourly space velocities(WHSV = 30000 and 120000 mL·g-1h-1) and pressures(0.1 and 3.0 MPa). It was found that high calcination temperature not only led to the growth in Ni particle size, but also weakened the interaction between Ni nanoparticles and Al2O3 supports due to the rapid decrease of the specific surface area and acidity of Al2O3 supports. Interestingly, Ni catalysts supported on Al2O3 calcined at 1200 C(Ni/Al2O3-1200) exhibited the best catalytic activity for CO methanation under different reaction conditions. Lifetime reaction tests also indicated that Ni/Al2O3-1200 was the most active and stable catalyst compared with the other three catalysts, whose supports were calcined at lower temperatures(600, 800 and 1000 C). These findings would therefore be helpful to develop Ni/Al2O3 methanation catalyst for SNG production.     

Novel Carbon Nanotubes-supported NiB Amorphors Alloy Catalyst for Benzene Hydrogenation

The NiB amorphous alloy catalysts supported on CNTs and alumina were prepared by impregnation and chemical reduction. The gas-phase benzene hydrogenation was used as a probe reaction to evaluate the catalytic activity. The result showed that the NiB amorphous alloy catalyst supported on carbon nanotubes exhibited higher activity than that supported on alumina.     

Development of niobium-promoted cobalt catalysts on carbon nanotubes for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Cobalt-based catalysts were prepared by a wet impregnation method on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) support and promoted with niobium.Samples were characterized by nitrogen adsorption,TEM,XRD,TPR,TPO and H2-TPD.Addition of niobium increased the dispersion of cobalt but decreased the catalysts reducibility.Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) was carried out in a fixed-bed microreactor at 543 K,1 atm and H2/CO=2 for 5 h.Addition of niobium enhanced the C5+ hydrocarbons selectivity by 39% and reduced methane selectivity by 59%.These effects were more pronounced for 0.04%Nb/Co/CNTs catalyst,compared with those observed for other niobium compositions.     

Additive effects of alkaline-earth metals and nickel on the performance of Co/γ-Al_2O_3 in methane catalytic partial oxidation

Nano-sized γ-alumina (γ-Al2O3) was first prepared by a precipitation method. Then, active component of cobalt and a series of alkaline- earth metal promoters or nickel (Ni) with different contents were loaded on the γ-Al2O3 support. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The activity and selectivity of the catalysts in catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) of methane have been compared with Co/γ-Al2O3, and it is found that the catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability are enhanced by the addition of alkaline-earth metals and nickel. The optimal loadings of strontium (Sr) and Ni were 6 and 4 wt%, respectively. This finding will be helpful in designing the trimetallic Co-Ni-Sr/γ-Al2O3 catalysts with high performance in CPO of methane.