Interaction between Nickel and Molybdenum in Ni–Mo/Al2O3 catalysts: II: CO hydrogenation Original Research Article

A series of alumina supported Ni, Mo and Ni–Mo catalysts prepared by impregnation or coimpregnation were tested to investigate the effects of Ni–Mo interaction on their structural properties and activity/selectivity characteristics in CO hydrogenation. The Ni and Mo contents of the catalysts were varied between 0–15 wt% according to a factorial experimental design. The results of CO hydrogenation tests reveal that the specific activity of the active sites changes with Mo loading, Ni:Mo molar ratio and total metal loading. Introducing Mo as the second metal increases the total hydrocarbon production as well as the C2–C4 hydrocarbons selectivity in the 498–573 K temperature range. Lower H2/CO molar ratios increase C2–C4 selectivity, and this effect is enhanced with Mo addition especially to samples with higher Ni loading.