Preparation of highly active catalysts for ultra-clean fuels

Novel preparation methods with chelating agents for Co/SiO2 Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalysts were developed in the present study. The preparation with chelating agents such as nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) or trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-tetra-acetic acid (CyDTA) greatly improved the FTS activity of Co/SiO2 catalyst. The surface structures of the reduced and calcined catalysts were also investigated by means of various characterization techniques. Based on these results, it was suggested that the control of the interaction between Co2+, chelating agents and SiO2 surface was crucial to the preparation of Co/SiO2 catalyst with higher FTS activity.