Effect of the composition and structure of the precursor compound on the catalytic properties of cobalt-aluminum catalysts in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

The effect of preparation procedure on the anionic composition and structure of hydroxo compounds as precursors of Co-Al catalysts and on their catalytic properties in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was studied. The dynamics of changes in the composition and structure of the hydroxide precursors of Co-Al catalysts during thermal treatment and subsequent activation was studied by thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, XRD analysis, and in situ XRD analysis with the use of synchrotron radiation. It was found that the precursor compounds prepared by deposition-precipitation of cobalt cations on γ- and δ-Al₂O₃ under urea hydrolysis conditions, which had a hydrotalcite-type structure and contained nitrate, carbonate, and hydroxyl groups, turtned into the oxide compounds Co_{3 ? x} Al _x O₄ (0 < x < 2) with the spinel structure in the course of thermal treatment in an inert atmosphere. The hydrogen activation of an oxide precursor led to the formation of cobalt metal particles through the intermediate formation of a cobalt(II)-aluminum oxide phase. The catalyst was characterized by high activity and selectivity for C₅₊ hydrocarbons in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.