Cobalt Catalyst Preparation Using Dicarboxylic Acids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalysts, particularly those with a cobalt-based active phase on alumina, silica, or silica-alumina supports, do not adequately enhance performance, and the addition of organic compounds as additives often complicates industrial implementation and does not sufficiently increase catalyst performance.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst is prepared by forming a mixed oxide phase containing cobalt and/or nickel on the support, followed by contact with a cobalt precursor and dicarboxylic acids like malonic or succinic acid, which improves the catalyst's activity and selectivity through increased cobalt dispersion, even if the organic compound is partially eliminated during drying and calcination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If organic compounds are added to Fischer-Tropsch catalysts to improve activity, then catalyst performance is enhanced, but industrial deployment becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by selecting specific dicarboxylic acids (malonic or succinic acid) with defined molecular structures and properties. This standardization of the organic additive parameter allows for improved catalyst activity while maintaining manageable process complexity through consistent, well-characterized chemical inputs
Solution Approach 2:
The dicarboxylic acid is introduced during the catalyst preparation phase before the actual Fischer-Tropsch synthesis operation. This preliminary action during manufacturing allows the organic compound to influence catalyst formation and structure, achieving performance enhancement without adding complexity to the operational phase
2Productivity
If multiple organic compounds are used as additives, then catalyst performance may improve, but the modification process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates the essential function of organic additives to a single, specific class of compounds (dicarboxylic acids with 3+ carbon atoms). By taking out only the necessary functional components and eliminating unnecessary additive varieties, the solution achieves catalyst performance improvement while keeping the preparation method relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The selected dicarboxylic acids serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as structure-directing agents during catalyst formation, influence the dispersion of cobalt species, and potentially serve as temporary templates for active phase development. This multi-functionality of a single additive class improves catalyst performance without requiring multiple different additives
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The catalyst exhibits enhanced activity and selectivity in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, with improved cobalt dispersion leading to more active sites, resulting in higher CO conversion and selectivity for C8+ hydrocarbons compared to traditional catalysts.
Implementation Method 1
the use of a dicarboxylic acid chosen from malonic acid or succinic acid as an organic additive during the preparation of a catalyst containing an active phase of cobalt, deposited on a support comprising alumina, silica or silica-alumina
Implementation Method 2
a step of bringing said support containing said mixed oxide phase into contact with at least one dicarboxylic acid
Implementation Method 3
a step of bringing a support comprising alumina, silica or silica-alumina into contact with at least one solution containing at least one cobalt and/or nickel precursor
Implementation Method 4
calcining at a temperature between 700 and 1200°C, so as to obtain a mixed oxide phase containing cobalt and/or nickel
Implementation Method 5
calcining at a temperature between 700 and 1200°C, so as to obtain a mixed oxide phase containing cobalt and/or nickel in the support
Implementation Method 6
a step of bringing a support comprising alumina, silica or silica-alumina into contact with at least one solution containing at least one cobalt and/or nickel precursor, then drying and calcining
Data Source
AI summary
The subject of the invention is a catalyst containing an active cobalt phase, deposited on a support comprising alumina, silica or silica-alumina, said support containing a mixed oxide phase containing cobalt and/or nickel, said catalyst was prepared by introducing at least one dicarboxylic acid comprising at least three carbon atoms. The invention also relates to the use thereof in the field of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis processes.