Activity and stability improvement of Cobalt nanocatalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis by functionalized CNT

Common and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes as functionalized CNTs supported cobalt nanocatalysts were prepared using microemulsion technique with cobalt loading of 15 wt.%. Functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was performed, to modify the surface properties of CNTs support. Samples were dried and reduced at 400 °C for 12 h, and then FT synthesis was carried out in a fixed-bed micro reactor. The FTS activity, selectivity and stability of the catalysts were evaluated and compared with the non-functioned CNT. The catalysts were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Results showed functioned CNT and microemulsion synthesis method lead to a better cobalt nanocatalyst. Cobalt nanocatalysts on N-doped CNTs which prepared by microemulsion method has lower average cobalt cluster size in comparison of common CNT as support. Additionally this catalyst shows well dispersion of the cobalt, and improved activity and stability of FTS. The proposed cobalt catalyst supported on functionalized CNTs increased the percentage CO conversion to 54%