Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over alumina supported bimetallic Co–Ni catalyst: Effect of impregnation sequence and solution

Abstract The effect of Ni substitution on the Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis activity and selectivity of alumina supported cobalt (Co/Al 2 O 3 ) catalyst was investigated with a continuous stirred tank reactorat 230 °C and 1 MPa. Bimetallic Co–Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalysts were prepared by an impregnation method. Total amount of supported metal was fixed at 20 wt%. Influence of the Co/Ni ratio, impregnation sequences and solutions on the structure and activity of Co–Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalyst was systematically studied. Low Ni-loading slightly increased CO conversion rate at nearly constant C 5+ selectivity, but excess Ni-loading largely decreased CO conversion rate and C 5+ selectivity. The catalytic activity did not depend on impregnation sequence, when Ni-loading amount was low. However, when Co was substituted with large amount of Ni, catalysts prepared by sequential impregnation method (Ni first and then Co) showed higher activity than those prepared by co-impregnation method and reverse sequential impregnation method (Co first and then Ni). These results indicate that catalysts with a Co-rich surface would be better than those with a Ni-rich surface. Impregnation solution also influenced the catalytic activity. Co–Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalysts prepared by co-impregnation method using aqueous NH 3 solution (Co + Ni/Al 2 O 3 -A) showed higher activity than those prepared using pure water or aqueous HNO 3 solution. The best catalyst was Co(19 wt%) + Ni(1 wt%)/Al 2 O 3 -A, which exhibited 1.6 times as high activity as Co(20 wt%)/Al 2 O 3 catalyst prepared by a conventional impregnation method. The variation of catalytic activity with the kind of impregnation solution would be attributed to the differences in CO adsorption amount and/or electron density of surface Co metal sites.