Studies on the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over RuCo/SiC-Al₂O₃ structured catalyst

RuCo/SiC-Al₂O₃ catalysts were with enhancing thermal conductivity for the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) were designed and manufactured. The SiC-Al₂O₃ support was extruded by Lab scale extruder and then foamed by the marumerizer. Catalysts were prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation method. All the prepared catalysts were characterized by SEM-EDX, XRD, TPR, TPD, XPS, ICP and N₂-physisorption techniques. The catalytic performance was evaluated at T = 210–230 °C, P = 20 bar and GHSV of 1,000 h⁻¹ in a fixed bed reactor system. The CO conversion over RuCo/nSiC-Al₂O₃ catalysts was increased by 10% compared to RuCo/Al₂O₃ catalyst at 210 °C. Furthermore, the selectivity of methane was similar or less than RuCo/Al₂O₃ catalyst. It was shown that the CO conversion increased with increasing the SiC content from 5 to 15 wt%, and then decreased. The RuCo/15SiC-Al₂O₃ catalyst showed higher CO conversion than other catalysts under the tested conditions. This is because the 15 wt.% SiC addition ratio is the most advantageous between thermal conductivity improvement and aggregation of cobalt particles.