Investigation Of Intrinsic Activity Of Cobalt And Iron Based Fischer Tropsch Catalysts Using Transient Kinetic Methods

The work exposed in this manuscript concerns the study of the intrinsic activity and localization of active sites in cobalt and iron based catalysts using a combination of transient kinetic methods such as SSITKA, extended physicochemical characterization and catalytic tests under quasi steady state conditions. Promotion of iron catalysts with metals used for soldering (Bi and Pb) results a remarkable increase in the light olefin production rate with the possibility to conduct Fischer-Tropsch synthesis at very mild reaction conditions (low pressure) and even at atmospheric pressure. Transient kinetic experiments showed facilitation of CO dissociation in the presence of promoters by scavenging O atoms from iron carbide. Cobalt catalyst supported by mordenite zeolite presented higher value of SSITKA rate constant. Localization of cobalt active sites in bifunctional cobalt-zeolite catalysts has a major impact on the reaction rate and in particular on the hydrocarbon selectivity. A proximity between the cobalt active site and Bronsted active sites was found to be a key parameter to obtain higher selectivity and yield of isomerized hydrocarbons. SSITKA combined with catalyst characterization revealed that carbon deposition and cobalt nanoparticle agglomeration were responsible for the deactivation of silica supported cobalt catalysts. Catalyst rejuvenation in hydrogen lessened the amounts of deposited carbon species and partially released the most active sites of carbon monoxide dissociative adsorption and stronger sites of carbon monoxide reversible adsorption.