Determination of the conditions of technologically optimized reduction of high-performance Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalysts

The activation stage of high-performance cobalt catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis has been studied, taking into account the transformation of emerging structures and the presence of a percolation heat-conducting network of metallic aluminum. The influence of temperature, process duration, composition of the reducing gas, as well as its volumetric velocity on the degree of reduction and surface area of the active component of the catalyst was studied. These characteristics were determined by low- and high-temperature oxygen titration in a chromatographic-type sorption unit, as well as using temperature-programmed reduction. The possibility of reducing the temperature and concentration of hydrogen in the gas to achieve the required parameters during reduction to obtain a high-performance catalytic system has been experimentally demonstrated. Its performance in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (CO conversion, liquid hydrocarbon productivity) is comparable or better than that achieved on a catalyst reduced under standard conditions.