Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis: Characterization and Reaction Testing of Cobalt Carbide

• Published in: ACS catalysis Vol. 1; no. 11; pp. 1581 - 1588
• Main Authors: Mohandas, Janet Chakkamadathil, Gnanamani, Muthu Kumaran, Jacobs, Gary, Ma, Wenping, Ji, Yaying, Khalid, Syed, Davis, Burtron H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 04-11-2011
• Subjects: ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY; CARBON MONOXIDE; CARBURIZATION; CATALYSTS; COBALT; cobalt carbide; COBALT CARBIDES; EXAFS; FINE STRUCTURE; FISCHER-TROPSCH SYNTHESIS; HYDROGENATION; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; PACKED BEDS; SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY; SPECTROSCOPY; SURFACE AREA; TANKS; TEMPERATURE RANGE 0400-1000 K; TESTING; X-RAY DIFFRACTION; XANES; Fischer−Tropsch synthesis; cobalt carbide; cobalt; XANES; carburization; EXAFS
• ISSN: 2155-5435; 2155-5435
• DOI: 10.1021/cs200236q

Hydrogenation of carbon monoxide was investigated for cobalt carbide synthesized from Co3O4 by CO carburization in a fixed-bed reactor. The cobalt carbide synthesized was characterized by BET surface area, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The catalysts were tested in the slurry phase using a continuously stirred tank reactor at P = 2.0 MPa, H2/CO = 2:1 in the temperature range of 493–523 K, and with space velocities varying from 1 to 3 Nl h–1 gcat –1. The results strongly suggest that a fraction of cobalt converts to a form with greater metallic character under the conditions employed. This was more pronounced on a Fischer–Tropsch synthesis run conducted at a higher temperature (523 versus 493 K).