The present invention relates to supported catalysts and their use in Fischer- Tropsch synthesis reactions, and more specifically to processes for the production of the supported catalyst, and to the supported catalyst itself, as well as activation of the catalyst.

Conversion of natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons ("Gas To Liquids" or "GTL" process) is based on a 3 step procedure consisting of: 1 ) synthesis gas production; 2) synthesis gas conversion by FT synthesis; and 3) upgrading of FT products (wax and naphtha/distillates) to final products.

The Fischer-Tropsch reaction for conversion of synthesis gas, a mixture of CO and hydrogen, possibly also containing essentially inert components like CO2, nitrogen and methane, is commercially operated over catalysts containing the active metals Fe or Co. Iron catalysts are best suited for synthesis gas with low H ₂ /CO ratios (< 1 .2), e.g. from coal or other heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, where this ratio is considerably lower than the consumption ratio of the FT- reaction (2.0 - 2.1 ). The present invention is concerned with Co-based catalysts, in particular, supported Co-based catalysts. A variety of products can be made by the FT-reaction, but from supported cobalt, the primary product is long-chain hydrocarbons that can be further upgraded to products like diesel fuel and petrochemical naphtha. Byproducts can include olefins and

oxygenates.

To achieve sufficient catalytic activity, it is customary to disperse the Co on a catalyst carrier, often referred to as the support material. In this way, a larger portion of Co is exposed as surface atoms where the reaction can take place. Suitable support materials include titania, silica, and alumina and various metal oxides and modified aluminas and mixtures thereof The modified aluminas include addition of stabilization agents, treatment with silanes and other silicon compounds and various acid or base additions or wash procedures. One way of modifying the alumina is to add a divalent metal compound to the alumina or an alumina precursor followed by high temperature treatment. The high temperature treatment is preferably carried out at 700 to 1300 ^° C, more preferably between 900 and 1250 ^° C. The divalent metal compound includes nickel, zinc and magnesium and other metals capable of forming a spinel with alumina.

Supported cobalt catalysts are the preferred catalysts for the FT synthesis. The most important properties of a cobalt FT catalyst are the activity, the selectivity usually to C ₅ and heavier products and the resistance towards deactivation. The physical strength and chemical robustness of the catalyst and support are also crucial. Normally, the catalyst is deployed in a slurry type, fluidized bed or fixed-bed reactor when used, but other reactor types like a microstructured reactor has been proposed. In a slurry reactor the average catalyst particle size can be between 20 and 200 μιτι. Optionally, a promoter can be added, and rhenium is a well known promoter for cobalt Fischer- Tropsch catalysts. Other promoters besides rhenium, specifically, platinum, iridium or ruthenium, can be employed. It is also possible to add a second promoter such as lanthanum oxide or a mixture of oxides of the lanthanides or other compounds which are difficult to reduce.

According to one convenient procedure for making the catalyst, after impregnation of the alumina carrier material with a solution of a cobalt compound, it is dried at e.g. 80- 120°C and calcined at a relatively low temperature of 200 to 450°C, e.g. at 300°C, for 2 to 16 hours. The cobalt is then activated by a reduction step, typically by treating the catalyst with a reducing gas at about 200 to 500°C at pressures from atmospheric to 20 bar. The reducing gas can be hydrogen, preferably dry hydrogen. WO 2005/072866 discloses a method of producing an alumina-supported catalyst, which comprises the following steps: a first impregnation step in which an initial alumina support material is impregnated with a source of a 2- valent metal capable of forming a spinel compound with alumina; a first calcination step in which the impregnated alumina support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 550°C to produce a modified alumina support material; a second impregnation step in which the modified alumina support material is impregnated with a source of catalytically active metal; and a second calcination step in which the impregnated modified support material is calcined at a temperature of at least 150°C. This is then followed by a reduction step to activate the cobalt.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a supported cobalt catalyst which shows an improved selectivity for C ₅ + hydrocarbons in F-T synthesis. According to the invention, there is provided a method of producing an activated supported cobalt catalyst, which comprises the following steps: a cobalt impregnation step in which a support material is impregnated with a source of cobalt; a calcination step in which the impregnated support material is calcined to produce a supported catalyst material in oxide form; a first activation step in which the supported catalyst material is treated with a reducing gas; a modifying gas treatment step in which the activated supported catalyst is modified with a modifying gas; and a second activation step in which the modified activated supported catalyst material is treated with a reducing gas. It has been found that a modifying step, after initial activation of the catalyst, followed by a second activation step, results in a catalyst with increased selectivity to C5+ hydrocarbons, without any appreciable detrimental effect on activity.

Before impregnation, the catalyst support may be precalcined at about 500 °C. One convenient way of loading active metal and promoter onto the support is by impregnation in one step, but multiple steps can also be employed, from a mixed aqueous solution of appropriate metal salts, generally of cobalt nitrate and perrhenic acid or alternatively ammonium perrhenate. The impregnation technique generally used is the pore filling or "incipient wetness" method, in which the solution is mixed with the dry support until the pores are filled. The definition of the end point of this method may vary somewhat from laboratory to laboratory so that an impregnated catalyst could have a completely dry appearance or a sticky snow-like appearance. However, in no instances would there be any free flowing liquid present when the incipient wetness method is employed.

A number of alternative impregnation procedures are known in the art which use alternative solvents and chemicals, however, in the present invention, the preferred procedure. involves aqueous incipient wetness with solutions of cobalt nitrate (Co(NO ₃ ) _{2 *} 6 H ₂ O) and perrhenic acid (HReO ₄ ). Possible alternatives include using cobalt acetate(s), cobalt carbonate(s) cobalt halide(s), cobalt carbonyl(s), cobalt oxalate(s), cobalt phosphate(s), organic cobalt compounds, ammonium perrhenate, rhenium halide(s), rhenium carbonyl(s), industrial metal salt solutions, organic solvents, etc. The solution may also encompas pH regulating agents, complexing agents, surfactants and other compound(s) that in some way influence the impregnation and following steps, e.g. ammonia or urea can be used. Furthermore, the impregnation technique may encompass all available methods besides incipient wetness, such as precipitation,

impregnation from slurry with surplus liquid, chemical vapour deposition etc. It is well known that the impregnation method may influence the dispersion of the active metal (cobalt) and hence the catalytic activity.

The impregnated catalyst is dried, typically at 80- 120 °C, to remove water from the catalyst pores, and then calcined at typically 200-450°C, e.g. at 300°C for 2- 16h. The method may include the additional step of impregnating or co- impregnating the support material with a promoter. The promoter may comprise platinum or rhenium. Preferably, the promoter is rhenium and the source of rhenium is selected from perrhenic acid (HRe0 ₄ ), ammonium perrhenate, rhenium halide(s) and rhenium carbonyl(s).

Preferably, the initial support material is alumina and more preferably substantially comprises γ-alumina. Preferably, the initial alumina support material has a specific surface area in the range 100 to 400 m /g, and a pore volume greater than 0.2cm ³ /g, preferably greater than 0.4cm g.

Preferably, prior to the cobalt impregnation step, an initial support material is impregnated with a source a of 2-valent metal capable of forming a spinel phase with alumina in a first impregnation step. Preferably, the source of a 2- valent metal comprises a source of cobalt, zinc, magnesium, manganese, nickel or iron. More preferably, the source of a 2-valent metal comprises nickel or zinc in an amount of less then 25 wt% of the final reduced catalyst, for example, less than 20 wt%, alternatively less than 8 wt%. Preferably, after the 2-valent metal impregnation step, but prior to the cobalt impregnation step, the impregnated initial support material is calcined.

Preferably, the first calcination step is carried out at a temperature in the range 700 to 1300 ^° C, more preferably between 900 and 1250 ^° C. Conveniently, after the first calcination step, the modified alumina support has a surface area of 20 to 80 m ² /g.

It should be understood that incorporation of the divalent metal with the initial support material can be carried out in different ways, e.g. by intimate mixing prior to forming a suitable shape of the support. As an example, a modified support suitable for making a cobalt catalyst can be prepared by impregnation of γ-alumina particles with nickel nitrate followed by drying and calcination steps, up to a maximum temperature of 1 150-1200 ^° C. During this process, nickel aluminate, a spinel compound, will be formed and possible larger or smaller amounts of a-alumina.

Unmodified γ-alumina may also be used as a support.

The method may include the additional step of incorporating a stabiliser into the alumina support material, prior to the cobalt impregnation step. Preferably, the stabiliser comprises lanthanum. In preparing the support material, organic or inorganic binders can also be used. Further, in the support preparation, as well as in subsequent steps, great care should be taken to limit the

concentration of catalytic poisons for the Fischer-Tropsch reaction to acceptable levels. Such poisons typically encompass alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, sulphur and chloride.

Preferably, the first activation step comprises reduction of a substantial portion of the catalytically active metal compound present to the metal. Preferably, the reducing gas used in the first and/or second activation step is hydrogen and the reduction in the first and/or second activation step is carried out at an activation temperature of 200 to 600 ^° C, preferably 300 to 450 ^° C for both activation steps. However, the preferred reduction temperature will depend on the actual support used and the way of making the oxide catalyst. Sometimes it can be convenient to split the reduction step(s) into further reduction steps or to include polishing by using a lower concentration of hydrogen, e.g. less than 5 vol%, in an inert carrying gas. A polishing step can reduce residual amounts of components from the impregnation such as nitrate. CO can also be used as the reducing gas, either alone or mixed with H ₂ , and the reducing gas can be mixed with inerts like nitrogen, noble gases or steam and suitable temperatures and pressures should be applied. If a fluidised bed reactor is used for activation, it may be convenient to use a recycle of (part of) the reductive gas and a slight

atmospheric total overpressure in order to achieve a suitable gas flow. It is also possible to use elevated total pressures, e.g. up to 8 bar or higher, or even the Fischer-Tropsch reactor pressure. Selection of the reduction temperature strongly depends on the actual catalyst formulation, in particular on the presence and nature of promoters. It is well known that Re is highly efficient as a promoter in achieving high reducibilities at a conveniently reduced temperature.

Optimal activation procedures are described in a variety of patents and articles during the last 20 years. Kobylinski et al. (US4670414) describe increased activity of cobalt carbonyl-impregnated catalysts on alumina or silica by subjecting them to (A) reduction in hydrogen, (B) oxidation in an oxygen- containing gas, and (C) reduction in hydrogen, claiming this significantly improved the catalysts performance in Fischer-Tropsch. In another patent (US4729981 ) Kobilinsky describes use of the same method on a cobalt or nickel containing catalyst on refractory metal oxide support. Raje (US 2004/0127585 A l ) describes co-feeding parts-per-million quantities of carbon monoxide along with the reducing gas in a slurry to reduce the loss of liquid from the slurry and the production of methane. In another patent (US7045554) Raje describes how low levels of oxygen deactivates the smaller more unstable metal crystallites present in the catalyst matrix, thus giving a more stable catalyst.

The modifying step that follows the first reduction step comprises treatment with a modifying gas, preferably selected from CO, CO ₂ and steam. The modifying gas can also contain a portion of hydrogen. On a reduced catalyst, CO can decompose to give a carbon deposit. The modifying gas may be considered to provide an oxidative effect. The modifying gas may comprise an oxygen containing gas, such as oxygen and/or air, as an alternative or in addition to CO, CO ₂ and/or steam.

Preferably, the modifying gas is steam, though it may be a mixture of H ₂ and CO, in which case the H ₂ /CO ratio is preferably between 1/1 and 10/1 , preferably between 2/1 and 5/1 . If the modifying gas is a mixture of H ₂ and CO, a Fischer-Tropsch reaction can be conducted that generates steam in situ, thereby introducing an oxidation potential.

Preferably, the modifying gas treatment step is followed by a treatment with an oxygen containing gas, before the modified activated supported catalyst material is subjected to the second activation step. Preferably, the modifying gas comprises CO and the oxygen containing gas comprises O ₂ or air.

Preferably, in the modifying gas treatment step, the activated supported catalyst is treated with CO under different conditions to the conditions under which it is treated with at least one gas selected from O ₂ , an oxygen containing gas and air. Preferably, the water content of the modifying gas has a lower limit of at least 2vol%, preferably at least 5vol%, more preferably at least 20vol%. The modifying gas treatment may be carried out at a temperature in the range 100 to 500 ^° C, preferably 200 to 350°C, and at a pressure in the range of 0 to 40 bar, preferably 1 to 30 bar, in certain embodiments preferably between 10 and 30 bar. The invention also extends to catalyst material made in accordance with the invention. Conveniently, the cobalt content of the catalyst is from 10 to 40% by weight, preferably from 12 to 25% by weight. The catalyst may incorporate less then 3% by weight of a promoter, preferably less than 0.5 wt%, such as platinum or rhenium.

Amorphous catalyst support materials typically have specific surface areas between 50 and 500 m /g, more typically between 100 and 400 m /g. The preferred alumina starting materials used in the present invention are all, at least predominantly, of the γ-alumina type, preferably with specific surface areas between 150 and 200 m ² /g. These supports can be prepared by spray- drying techniques of an appropriate solution in order to obtain essentially spherical particles of appropriate size, e.g. 80 % in the range between 30 - 200 μιτι. After spray-drying, the material is calcined at a high temperature to give the appropriate crystal size and pore structure.

Preferably, the specific surface area of the prepared oxide catalyst, comprising the cobalt oxide on the modified support, is up to 1 50 m /g or up to 100 m /g, and the pore volume of the prepared catalyst is from 0.05 to 0.5cm /g, preferably 0.1 to 0.4 m ² /g. Preferably, the pore diameter of the prepared catalyst is at least 10 nm, preferably 1 8 nm.

The invention also extends to the use of the catalyst in an F-T synthesis, which may be conducted in a fixed bed reactor or a non-fixed bed reactor, such as a slurry bubble column.

The invention also extends to a process for the production of hydrocarbons which comprise subjecting H ₂ and CO gases to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst of the invention. The process can be conducted under typical F-T operating conditions.

Preferably, therefore, the reaction is a three-phase reaction in which the reactants are gaseous, the product is at least partially liquid and the catalyst is solid, and is carried out in a slurry bubble column reactor. Preferably, the H ₂ and CO are supplied to a slurry in the reactor, the slurry comprising the catalyst in suspension in a liquid including the reaction products of the H ₂ and CO, the catalyst being maintained in suspension in the slurry at least partly by the motion of the gas supplied to the slurry. The reaction temperature may be in the range 190 to 260 ^° C, preferably 210 to 240 ^° C, and the pressure may be in the range 10 to 60 bar, preferably 15 to 30 bar. The H ₂ /CO ratio of the gas fed to the reactor may be in the range 0.5 to 2.2, preferably 1.2 to 1 .95, and the superficial gas velocity may be in the range 5 to 60 cm/s, preferably 20 to 40 cm/s. The products can be subjected to various post-processing operations, such as filtration, de-waxing, hydro-isomerisation and/or hydro-cracking.

The invention will now be illustrated in the following non-limiting examples where all the catalyst testing was performed in a fixed bed laboratory unit with four parallel fixed-bed reactors. Approximately 1 g of catalyst particles in a size fraction between 53 and 90 microns were mixed with 20 g of inert SiC. Reduction was performed in situ at 350°C for 16 h in hydrogen before the oxidative treatment step and the second reduction step. The subsequent Fischer-Tropsch performance step was carried out in a mixture of hydrogen and CO at a ratio of 2: 1. After 20 h on stream at 210°C and 20 bar total pressure, the space velocity was adjusted to give an estimated conversion level of CO between 45 and 50% after 100 h. It is very important to perform selectivity, as well as activity, comparisons at the same level of conversion, as the level of steam generated in the reaction has a profound influence on the catalyst performance.

Example 1.

Table 1 give the results from different catalysts treated with an RSR method, in which the nomination is as follows: R: Reduction step with hydrogen at 350°C

S: Oxidation step with steam at 300°C

The results are given as RSR/R meaning activity and selectivity after RSR treatment relative to ordinary activation with reduction only.

Table 1. RSR treated catalysts.

As can be seen, all the catalysts except the one on alpha-alumina react positively to the RSR treatment regarding the selectivity to C5+, while the 12Co/0,5Re on modified alumina is clearly the best regarding activity, being the only one reacting positive on activity by the RSR treatment.

Example 2.

The catalyst made using the method described in WO 2005/072866 is treated by RXR, X being the same or different treatment compared to Example 1. X is described below:

S: Steam at 300°C

S' : Steam and hydrogen at 300°C

FT 300: hydrogen/carbon monoxide = 3 at 300°C

FT 24: Fischer- Tropsch conditions for 24h

CO: Carbon monoxide at 300°C

CO2: Carbon dioxide at 300°C

O: Air at 300°C

CO-O: Carbon monoxide at 300°C followed by air at 300°C The results are given in Table 2 as RXR/R meaning activity and selectivity after RXR treatment relative to ordinary activation with reduction only.

Table 2. RXR treated catalysts.

R' involves only a modified reduction step where steam is added, in other words RSR is combined into a single R' step.

It is seen from Table 2 that the CO treatment gives very different results compared to all others, being detrimental for the catalyst regarding both activity and selectivity. It is further seen from the table that all other treatments improve or stabilize the C5+ selectivity, while there is a greater difference in the impact on activity. The best allover influence of the treatment is with hydrogen/carbon monoxide 3/1 at 300°C or carbon monoxide followed by calcination in the oxidizing step.