Characterization of Modified Fischer–Tropsch Catalysts Promoted with Alkaline Metals for Higher Alcohol Synthesis

Two series of Cu/Co/Cr modified Fischer–Tropsch catalyst promoted with Zn or Mn and an alkaline metal (Me: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) were prepared by co-precipitation method and tested for high alcohol synthesis (HAS) at one hour on-stream and at two temperatures, 300 and 350 °C. The results indicate that the best selectivity toward high alcohols depends on temperature and catalysts composition and is obtained as follows: a) at 300 °C over catalysts without Zn and containing K, Na and Rb; b) at 350 °C over catalysts without Zn and containing K; c) at 350 °C over catalysts containing Zn as well as Li and Cs. Graphical Abstract Two series of Cu/Co/Cr modified Fischer–Tropsch catalyst promoted with Zn or Mn and an alkaline metal (Me: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs) were prepared by co-precipitation method and tested for HAS at one hour on-stream and at two temperatures, 300 and 350 °C. The results indicate that the higher HA production (i.e. normal and branched butanol) is obtained at 350 °C over catalysts promoted with Zn and all alkali metals, except for Li which shown its best performance at 300 °C.