Nanoreactors: An Efficient Tool To Control the Chain-Length Distribution in Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

One of the main problems of the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis is the overly broad distribution of the produced hydrocarbons due to the Anderson–Schulz–Flory law. This work is directed toward the solution of this problem by the application of nanoreactors with incorporated metal nanoparticles. Our results show that encapsulation of Co nanoparticles in nanosized porous silica spheres results in higher activity per catalyst weight and stability with a shift of the chain length distribution of hydrocarbons to lower values in comparison with Fischer–Tropsch synthesis over impregnated catalysts. These effects are due to the presence of well-dispersed isolated and stable Co nanoparticles inside of nanoreactors and shape selectivity effects which restrict the chain growth by the walls of nanoreactors. The proposed new strategy can be further extended to synthesis of olefins and alcohols with desired chain-length distribution from syngas by encapsulation of other metals (Fe, Cu, Rh, etc.).