Tianjin University achieves breakthrough in F-T synthesis

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Source: China Chemical Industry News. According to reports from Sinochem New Network, recently, a team led by Professor Li Xingang from the School of Chemical Engineering at Tianjin University, in collaboration with Professor Tsubaki Noritake from the National University of Toyama in Japan, achieved breakthrough results in the field of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. 　　The research team designed and developed a cobalt/silica catalyst with a \"watermelon seed\" structure, precisely controlling the size of the cobalt grains and preventing the agglomeration and sintering of cobalt during the reaction through structural confinement effects. They found that when the cobalt grain size is around 7 nanometers, the selectivity for diesel fractions can exceed 60%, and when the cobalt grain size is around 11 nanometers, the selectivity for gasoline fractions can also exceed 60% – representing an important breakthrough in the field of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis research. At the same time, the research results also challenged the traditional belief that catalysts with larger cobalt grain sizes yield heavier Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products, such as diesel and paraffin. 　　Coal-based syngas can be used to produce clean liquid fuels through the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction on catalysts such as metal cobalt. However, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products are theoretically limited by the ASF distribution. In actual industrial production, primary Fischer-Tropsch synthesis products require a secondary reaction with the assistance of other catalysts (such as acidic catalysts) to improve the selectivity of the target products. 　　Currently, the price of cobalt on the international market remains high. The successful development of small-sized cobalt catalysts will reduce the amount of cobalt used in these catalysts, thereby saving a significant amount of cobalt resources and greatly reducing industrial costs. This will play an important role in promoting the sustainable development of energy and resources in our country.