An active Fischer-Tropsch synthesis FeMo/SiO2 catalyst prepared by a modified sol-gel technique

Abstract FeMo/SiO 2 catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation, sol–gel, or modified sol–gel (MSG) methods. These catalysts were characterized by N 2 physisorption, H 2 temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) performances of catalysts were evaluated in a fixed-bed reactor at 300 °C, 1.5 MPa, 6 nL/(g of catalyst·h) and H 2 /CO molar ratio of 2.0. The MSG-derived FeMo/SiO 2 catalyst possessed higher surface catalytic sites, smaller iron crystallites, weaker Fe–SiO 2 interaction and easier reduction behavior relative to conventional method derived catalysts. The modified catalyst also exhibited higher activity, lower methane selectivity and better stability in FTS reaction.