Fischer-Tropsch Catalyst

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a catalyst suitable for catalyzing a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, said catalyst comprising cobalt metal supported on zinc-oxide and having the following particle size distribution by volume: <10% having a particle size below 1 micron, 70-99% having a particle size between 1 and 5 micron, and <20% having a particle size above 5 micron.

1 . A catalyst suitable for catalyzing a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, said catalyst comprising cobalt metal supported on zinc-oxide and having the following particle size distribution by volume:
 <10% having a particle size below 1 micron, 75-85% having a particle size between 1 and 5 micron, and <15% having a particle size above 5 micron.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the volume average particle size is less than 1.5 to 15 μm. 
     
     
         4 . A catalyst according to  claim 3 , wherein the pore volume is mainly formed by pores having a diameter within the range of 5-100 nm. 
     
     
         5 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the pore volume is less than 0.45 ml/g. 
     
     
         6 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the surface area is in the range of 5-100 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         7 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein the zinc to cobalt atomic ratio is in the range of 40 to 0.1 
     
     
         8 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more promoters, such as ruthenium, hafnium, platinum, zirconium, palladium, rhenium, cerium, lanthanum or a combination thereof are present in a cobalt to promoter atomic ratio of up to 10:1. 
     
     
         9 . A catalyst according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one group compound of a IIIa element, in a concentration of 0.1-10 wt. %, based upon the total weight of the catalyst. 
     
     
         10 . A method for performing a Fischer-Tropsch process, comprising: contacting the catalyst of  claim 1  with syngas; and recovering a product containing 5 or more carbon atoms. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A catalyst suitable for catalyzing a Fischer-Tropsch reaction, said catalyst comprising cobalt metal supported on zinc-oxide and having the following particle size distribution by volume:
 <10% having a particle size below 1 micron, 75-85% having a particle size between 1 and 5 micron, and <15% having a particle size above 5 micron.   
     
     
         13 . A catalyst according to  claim 12 , wherein the volume average particle size is less than 25 μm. 
     
     
         14 . A catalyst according to  claim 12 , wherein the pore volume is mainly formed by pores having a diameter within the range of 5-100 nm. 
     
     
         15 . A catalyst according to  claim 12 , wherein the pore volume is less than 0.5 ml/g. 
     
     
         16 . A catalyst according to  claim 12 , wherein the surface area is less than 120 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         17 . A catalyst according to  claim 12 , wherein the zinc to cobalt atomic ratio is in the range of 75 to 0.1. 
     
     
         18 . A catalyst according to  claim 12 , wherein one or more promoters, such as ruthenium, hafnium, platinum, zirconium, palladium, rhenium, cerium, lanthanum or a combination thereof are present in a cobalt to promoter atomic ratio of up to 10:1. 
     
     
         19 . A catalyst according to  claim 12 , further comprising at least one group compound of a Ma element in a concentration of 0.1-60 wt. %, based upon the total weight of the catalyst. 
     
     
         20 . A method for performing a Fischer-Tropsch process, comprising:
 contacting the catalyst of  claim 12  with syngas; and recovering a product containing 5 or more carbon atoms.