Hydrogenation of CO on supported cobalt γ-Al2O3 catalyst in fixed bed and slurry bubble column reactors

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis for the production of C 5 + hydrocarbons from syngas was carried out in a tubular fixed bed reactor (TFBR) and in a slurry bubble column reactor (SBCR). The Co-based catalysts for FTS were prepared by the conventional wet-impregnation of γ -Al 2 O 3 . Effects of operating conditions such as GHSV (1,000–4,000 ml/g·hr), reaction temperature (220–250°C) and pressure (0.5–3.0MPa) on the CO conversion and product selectivity of Co/ γ -Al 2 O 3 catalyst were examined in the TFBR and SBCR. The C 5 + selectivity and olefin selectivity in an SBCR were found to be higher than that in a TFBR, whereas C 2 –C 4 selectivity showed a reverse trend. The CO conversion and product distribution in an SBCR were less sensitive than that in a TFBR with variations of reaction conditions.