Cobalt/manganese oxide catalysts

Co/MnO (1:1) catalysts,active for the carbon monoxide hydrogenation reaction, were modified with chromium promoters (2-25% by mass; relative to Co). Significant changes in hydrocarbon selectivities were observed consistent with an increase in chain propagation (alpha-2 increased from 0.90 to 0.94). Studies on the effect of operating pressure, temperature and GHSV led to an optimization of medium wax yield for a selected level of chromium. Bulk and surface characterization techniques were used to investigate the catalyst formulation and to determine the origin (s) of the modified catalytic behaviour.