Hydrogenation of Carbon Monoxide over the Supported Iron-Cobalt-Nickel Alloy Catalysts : Effects of Preparation Methods and Additives

Effects of preparation methods and additives on the CO hydrogenation are discussed with the supported Fe-Co-Ni alloy catalysts. Although the catalytic activity decreased except the single cobalt or nickel catalyst, alloy catalysts with large surface area can be prepared by the precipitation of metallic ion onto the titanium hydroxide. The selectivity to ethylene, which hardly forms in CO hydrogenation, were greatly enhanced by preparing the catalysts from alkoxides, however, the CO conversion greatly decreased. Addition of lithium or potassium to the alloy catalysts containing iron increased the selectivity to oxygenated compounds. On the other hand, addition of lithium or potassium to the alloy containing cobalt and/or nickel greatly decreased the selectivity to higher hydrocarbons as well as CO conversion