The Role of Catalytic Site Deposition on Cobalt Catalysts Supported on Carbon Nanotubes for Fisher-Trospch Synthesis

Abstract The influence of the catalytic site deposition on Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was investigated on cobalt catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes. The catalysts were prepared using incipient wetness impregnation by controlling the deposition of catalytic sites on either the inner or the outer surfaces of nanotubes. The catalysts were characterized extensively and the reaction was performed at similar operating conditions. The in-10Co/CNT catalyst showed better CO conversion compared to the out-10Co/CNT catalyst at all reaction temperatures. An improvement on the catalyst performance was demonstrated in the case of particle deposition inside the pores of the nanotubes with higher C5+ and C2-C4 selectivity.