TITLE: Technology development for cobalt F-T catalysts. Quarterly technical progress report No. 7, April 1, 1994--June 30, 1994.

AUTHOR: A. H. Singleton.

INST.  AUTHOR: Energy International, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  31 May 95,  243p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE96007976INW

ABSTRACT:

This project's goal is the development of a commercially viable, cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) catalyst for use in a slurry bubble column (SBC) reactor. During the seventh quarter, significant progress in several areas has enabled us to make a number of important conclusions.  Preliminary catalyst preparation of 3 batches of a Ru-promoted 20% Co/Al(sub 2)O(sub 3) has confirmed the similarity in catalysts prepared by Energy International and by Calsicat using the same procedure. This similarity was evident in both fixed and SBC reactor studies. All TiO(sub 2)-supported Co catalysts have been found to have poor F-T properties in both the fixed-bed and SBC reactors. These catalysts had been prepared following exactly the procedures given in the Exxon patents. One of the main problems in using TiO(sub 2) as a support is the fact that it has low surface area for supporting a 20 wt % Co catalyst. Another problem is that it does not seem to be robust enough for use in a SBC reactor. Ru promotion of Co/SiO(sub 2) does not have as dramatic an effect on catalyst activity as seen for Co/Al(sub 2)O(sub 3). However, it does play a major role in maintaining higher activity (factor of 2 in the SBCR) when K is added to Co/Sr/SiO(sub 2). Zr has been clearly shown by us to significantly enhance the F-T activity of Co/SiO(sub 2). Such promotion is a basis for many of the Shell cobalt F-T patents. Latest results indicate that Zr also improves the activity of Co/Al(sub 2)O(sub 3), although the methane selectivity is also slightly elevated. Finally, for our design of a ''benchmark'' Co F- T catalyst, research has now shown using both fixed-bed and SBC reactors that 0.3 wt % K is the optimum amount to use with Ru- promoted 20 wt % Co/Al(sub 2)O(sub 3). This amount of K greatly improves higher hydrocarbon selectivity without causing an unacceptable loss of activity.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/92108-T12

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC22-92PC92108