Effect of Synthetic Route and Metal Oxide Promoter on Cobalt-Based Catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

A hydrothermal technique was employed in order to produce a novel coordination polymer [Co0.42Ni0.40Zn0.68(btc)(H2O)6] (1). The complex (1) was characterized by elemental analysis, and FT-IR spectroscopy; and its structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). Alumina-supported Co–Ni–Zn and silica catalysts were prepared by thermal decomposition of respective inorganic precursors (fabricated or synthesized catalysts) and through impregnation method as reference catalysts. The evaluation of catalytic activity of these catalysts was carried out at a fixed bed reactor for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. The performance of the synthesized catalysts was much better than the catalysts which were produced by the impregnation procedure, those that were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), XRD, and BET specific surface area.