Optimizing the Preparation Conditions of Silica Supported Fe-Co-Ce Ternary Catalyst for the Fixed-bed Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis: Taguchi Experimental Design Approach

Using wet impregnation method, a novel ternary system of silica supported Fe-Co-Ce catalyst was prepared. Preparation conditions such as impregnation time and temperature, drying time and temperature were optimized by the L9 Taguchi experimental design to achieve a light olefin selective catalyst with maximum CO conversion in a fixed bed micro-reactor. It was found that the best conditions to maximize the responses were obtained at 4 h impregnation time, 60 °C impregnation temperature, 6 h drying time, 90 °C drying temperature and 350 °C of reaction’s temperature. Characterization of the optimal catalyst precursors and calcined samples before and after the Fischer-Tropsch reaction was carried out using various techniques.