SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATIONS OF CO3O4/ZEOLITE-Y AS FISCHER-TROPSCH CATALYST PRECURSOR

• Main Author: Sri H, Alvinda
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Kimia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/34681
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Fischer-Tropsch reaction has a low selectivity in producing hydrocarbons with specific long-chain. Increasing the selectivity of Fischer-Tropsch reaction can be reached by applying a solid support which can crack long-chain hydrocarbons. In this study, Co3O4 deposited on zeolite-Y, which is precursor of Fischer-Tropsch catalyst (Co/Zeolite-Y), has been synthesized. Zeolite-Y, classified as Faujasite (FAU) framework, was prepared by hydrothermal method using kaolin with SiO2/Al2O3 mass ratio of 1.2 which has been activated by sodium hydroxide and calcined at 850ºC (fused kaolin), Na2SiO3, and water as starting materials. The effects of various factors (kaolin activation, aging, and hydrothermal condition) on the products of synthesis were investigated. Zeolite-Y can be prepared with a molar composition of 9SiO2:Al2O3:12Na2O:562H2O by aging at 50ºC for 24 hours and hydrothermally crystallized at 100ºC for 2 days. Prepared zeolite-Y was impregnated with Co(NO3)2.6H2O solution to make Co3O4/Zeolite-Y with Co3O4 mass percentage of 6.7% (6.7%Co3O4/Zeolite-Y) and 13.1% (13.1%Co3O4/Zeolite-Y). The impregnated zeolite-Y was then dried at 120ºC and calcined at 400ºC for 6 hours. The resulted 6.7%Co3O4/Zeolite-Y and 13.1%Co3O4/Zeolite-Y were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), N2 Adsorption Isotherm, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and gravimetric method. XRD patterns of both catalysts show specific peaks of FAU zeolite and Co3O4. Based on AAS analysis results, measured Co3O4 content of 6.7%Co3O4/Zeolite-Y is 6.07%wt. and measured Co3O4 content of 13.1%Co3O4/Zeolite-Y is 11.4%wt. Si/Al molar ratio of both catalysts, measured by AAS and gravimetric analysis method, is 1.5. BET specific surface area and total pore volume are 282 m2/g and 0.17 cm3/g for 6.7%Co3O4/Zeolite-Y and 145 m2/g and 0.08 cm3/g for 13.1% Co3O4/Zeolite-Y.