Fischer-tropsch catalysts

Abstract

The invention relates to the preparation of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst support and of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst. A silica comprising support is subjected to hydrothermal treatment. The hydrothermal treatment results in catalysts having improved C 5 + selectivity as compared with catalysts prepared with a non-treated silica comprising support.

1 . A process for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst support comprising at least the following steps:
 providing a catalyst support material comprising silica and optionally up to 20 wt % of another refractory oxide, calculated on the total weight of refractory oxide in the catalyst support material, said other refractory oxide preferably being titania, alumina, or zirconia;   subjecting the catalyst support material to hydrothermal treatment;   in which process the catalyst support material is shaped before or after the hydrothermal treatment.   
     
     
         2 . A process for preparing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising at least the following steps:
 providing a catalyst support material comprising silica and optionally up to 20 wt % of another refractory oxide, calculated on the total weight of refractory oxide in the catalyst support material, said other refractory oxide preferably being titania, alumina, or zirconia;   subjecting the catalyst support material to hydrothermal treatment;   impregnating the treated catalyst support material with a catalytically active metal;   in which process the catalyst support material is shaped before or after the hydrothermal treatment,   and in which process the catalyst support material is shaped before the impregnation with a catalytically active metal.   
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst support material is subjected to hydrothermal treatment in the presence of an acid, in the presence of an alkali, or in the presence of an acid and an alkali. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst support material is subjected to hydrothermal treatment using water or using a solution with a pH in the range of between 1 and 11. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the hydrothermal treatment is performed using a monoethanolamine comprising solution with a pH in the range of between 7 and 11. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrothermal treatment of the catalyst support material is carried out at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 250° C., preferably in the range of from 140 to 220° C., more preferably in the range of from 160 to 200° C. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the catalytically active metal is cobalt. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the silica in the catalyst support material has a median pore diameter [V] of 20 nm or greater, prior to impregnation with the catalytically active metal. 
     
     
         9 . The process according  claim 2 , wherein the silica in the catalyst support material has a surface area of 200 m 2 /g or less, prior to impregnation with the catalytically active metal. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 2 , wherein the silica in the catalyst support material has a total pore volume in the range of from 50 to 200 ml/g, prior to impregnation with the catalytically active metal. 
     
     
         11 . A catalyst as manufactured according to a process as claimed in  claim 2 . 
     
     
         12 . A process for performing a Fischer Tropsch reaction comprising the following steps:
 providing a reactor with a catalyst according to  claim 11 ;   providing syngas to the reactor and providing the following process conditions in the reactor: a temperature in the range from 125 to 350 ° C., a pressure in the range from 5 to 150 bar absolute, and a gaseous hourly space velocity in the range from 500 to 10000 Nl/l/ h;   removing Fischer Tropsch product from the reactor.