Abstract: A process for preparing a cobalt based catalyst precursor includes, in a support impregnation stage, impregnating a coated catalyst support comprising porous catalyst support particles coated with carbon, with a cobalt salt, and partially drying the impregnated support. Thereafter, in a calcination stage, the partially dried impregnated support is calcined, to obtain the cobalt based catalyst precursor. The cobalt based catalyst precursor can then, in a reduction stage, be reduced to obtain a cobalt based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.

Abstract: A method of treating an untreated catalyst support includes contacting an untreated catalyst support which is partially soluble in an aqueous acid and/or a neutral aqueous solution with a modifying component precursor of the formula Me(OR)x where Me is a modifying component selected from Si, Zr, Ti, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ba, Co, Ni, Na, K, Ca, Sn, Cr, Fe, Li, TI, Mg, Sr, Ga, Sb, V, Hf, Th, Ce, Ge, U, Nb, Ta, and W, R is an alkyl or acyl group, and x is an integer having a value of from 1 to 5. The modifying component is thereby introduced onto and/or into the catalyst support to form a protected modified catalyst support which is less soluble in the aqueous acid and/or the neutral aqueous solution. No calcination of the protected modified catalyst support is effected.

Abstract: A cobalt based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst which including a porous catalyst support and metallic cobalt crystallites within the support. The catalyst has a proportion of its cobalt in reducible form, with this proportion being expressible as &OHgr; mass %, based on the total pre-reduction catalyst mass. The catalyst also has, when freshly reduced, a mono-modal Gaussian metallic cobalt crystallite size distribution, a metallic cobalt surface area, in m2 per gram of catalyst, of from 0.14 &OHgr; to 1.03 &OHgr;, and a catalyst geometry that ensures a stabilized Fischer-Tropsch synthesis effectiveness factor of 0.9 or greater.

Abstract: A cobalt catalyst precursor includes a catalyst support impregnated with cobalt. All reducible cobalt is present in the support as supported cobalt oxide of formula-unit CoOaHb, where a≧1,7 and b≧0. A process for preparing a cobalt catalyst precursor, and a process for preparing a cobalt catalyst are also provided.

Abstract: A process for producing a clean wax product includes contacting, at an elevated temperature between 180° C. and 250° C. and at an elevated pressure between 10 bar and 40 bar, a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide with a cobalt slurry phase Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, in a slurry phase Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction. The catalyst is obtained from a successful catalyst support. A clean wax product containing less than 50 mass ppm submicron particulates of cobalt, is produced.

Abstract: A cobalt based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst which including a porous catalyst support and metallic cobalt crystallites within the support. The catalyst has a proportion of its cobalt in reducible form, with this proportion being expressible as &OHgr; mass %, based on the total pre-reduction catalyst mass. The catalyst also has, when freshly reduced, a mono-modal Gaussian metallic cobalt crystallite size distribution, a metallic cobalt surface area, in m2 per gram of catalyst, of from 0.14 &OHgr; to 1.03 &OHgr;, and a catalyst geometry that ensures a stabilized Fischer-Tropsch synthesis effectiveness factor of 0.9 or greater.

Abstract: A method of treating a catalyst support comprises introducing onto and/or into an untreated catalyst support which is partially soluble in an aqueous acid solution and/or a neutral aqueous solution, Si, Zr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ba, Co, Ni and/or La as a modifying component. The modifying component is capable, when present in and/or on the catalyst support, of suppressing the solubility of the catalyst support in the aqueous acid solution and/or the neutral aqueous solution. A protected modified catalyst support which is less soluble or more inert in the aqueous acid solution and/or the neutral aqueous solution, than the untreated catalyst support, is thus formed. A method of forming a catalyst from the modified catalyst support is also provided.

Abstract: A method of treating an untreated catalyst support includes contacting an untreated catalyst support which is partially soluble in an aqueous acid and/or a neutral aqueous solution with a modifying component precursor of the formula Me(OR)x where Me is a modifying component selected from Si, Zr, Ti, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ba, Co, Ni, Na, K, Ca, Sn, Cr, Fe, Li, TI, Mg, Sr, Ga, Sb, V, Hf, Th, Ce, Ge, U, Nb, Ta, and W, R is an alkyl or acyl group, and x is an integer having a value of from 1 to 5. The modifying component is thereby introduced onto and/or into the catalyst support to form a protected modified catalyst support which is less soluble in the aqueous acid and/or the neutral aqueous solution. No calcination of the protected modified catalyst support is effected.

Abstract: A process for preparing a cobalt based catalyst precursor includes in a first support impregnation/drying/calcination stage, impregnating a particulate porous catalyst support with a cobalt salt, partially drying the impregnated support, and calcining the partially dried impregnated support to obtain a calcined material. The calcined material is partially reduced. Thereafter, in a second support impregnation/drying/calcination stage, the partially reduced material is impregnated with a cobalt salt, partially dried and calcined, to obtain the cobalt based catalyst precursor.

Abstract: A process for preparing a cobalt based catalyst precursor includes, in a support impregnation stage, impregnating a coated catalyst support comprising porous catalyst support particles coated with carbon, with a cobalt salt, and partially drying the impregnated support. Thereafter, in a calcination stage, the partially dried impregnated support is calcined, to obtain the cobalt based catalyst precursor. The cobalt based catalyst precursor can then, in a reduction stage, be reduced to obtain a cobalt based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst.

Abstract: A cobalt catalyst precursor includes a catalyst support impregnated with cobalt. All reducible cobalt is present in the support as supported cobalt oxide of formula-unit CoOaHb, where a≧1,7 and b≧0. A process for preparing a cobalt catalyst precursor, and a process for preparing a cobalt catalyst are also provided.

Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst precursor including subjecting, in an initial treatment stage, a slurry of a catalyst support, an active catalyst component precursor, and water, to treatment at elevated temperature and at sub-atmospheric pressure, to impregnate the support with the precursor and to dry the impregnated support partially. The initial treatment stage does not continue beyond a point where the impregnated carrier has a LOI which is less than 1.2 LOIiw. In a subsequent treatment stage, the partially dried impregnated support is subjected to more vigorous drying at elevated temperature and at sub-atmospheric pressure to obtain a dried impregnated carrier, which is calcined to obtain the catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced, to obtain a catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing a catalyst precursor comprises subjecting, in an initial treatment stage, a slurry of a catalyst support, an active catalyst component precursor, and water, to treatment at elevated temperature and at sub-atmospheric pressure, to impregnate the support with the precursor and to dry the impregnated support partially. The initial treatment stage does not continue beyond a point where the impregnated carrier has a LOI which is less than 1,2 LOIiw. In a subsequent treatment stage, the partially dried impregnated support is subjected to more vigorous drying at elevated temperature and at sub-atmospheric pressure to obtain a dried impregnated carrier, which is calcined to obtain the catalyst precursor. The catalyst precursor is reduced, to obtain a catalyst.