A comparative study of Fe/SiO2 Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalysts using tetraethoxysilane and acidic silica sol as silica sources

Fe/SiO2 Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalysts using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and acidic silica sol (AcSS) respectively as silica sources were prepared by co-precipitation method. The catalysts were studied through N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer effect spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction and desorption. The FTS performances of catalysts were evaluated in a fixed-bed reactor at 280 °C, 1.5 MPa, 2000 h−1, and H2/CO molar ratio of 2. The characterization results indicated that the TEOS derived catalyst displayed a more uniform pore size distribution, easier reduction and higher capability for CO and H2 adsorption than the AcSS derived catalyst. In FTS reactions, the TEOS derived catalyst showed higher activity and C5+ selectivity than the AcSS derived catalyst.