Materials Chemistry and Catalysis

Designing Robust Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts for the Dynamic Production of Sustainable Fuels

A promising route to produce sustainable e-fuels and e-naphtha is to use captured CO₂ and green hydrogen as feedstocks. CO₂ is first converted into CO via the reverse-water-gas-shift reaction. A mixture of CO and H₂ is also known as synthesis gas, which is the feedstock for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). In FTS, cobalt-based heterogeneous catalysts convert synthesis gas into hydrocarbons that can be further processed into e-fuels. To achieve economic viability of this process on a large scale, it is envisioned that the cost of green hydrogen may be brought down by allowing load variations, in response to variable electricity prices.

The challenge is to understand the influence of dynamic conditions, causing non-steady-state regimes and strong gradients in process conditions, which affect the performance of the cobalt catalysts. It is known that performance can decrease during prolonged operation, for example because of particle growth (Ostwald ripening and/or coalescence), detachment of metal particles, coke formation, and surface reactions such as oxidation and carbonization [1], but little is yet understood about these mechanisms under transient conditions. The aim of this project is to understand these processes, to design, prepare and test adapted catalysts that show increased robustness and allow efficient operation under dynamic conditions. These adaptations can concern the cobalt particle size, modification of the catalyst morphology, and the addition of different promoters [2,3,4]. The catalysts will be characterized using advanced techniques, such as electron microscopy. Catalysts will be tested under industrially relevant pressures and temperatures, including during transient operation.

This project is part of the HyCARB consortium.

Feel free to contact me to learn more about this project or to discuss possible research projects.

References

[1] Have, I. C. T., & Weckhuysen, B. M. (2021). The active phase in cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Chem Catalysis, 1(2), 339–363.

[2] Breejen, J. P. D., Sietsma, J. R., Friedrich, H., Bitter, J. H., & De Jong, K. P. (2010). Design of supported cobalt catalysts with maximum activity for the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. Journal of Catalysis, 270(1), 146–152.

[3] Eschemann, T. O., Oenema, J., & De Jong, K. P. (2015). Effects of noble metal promotion for Co/TiO2 Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. Catalysis Today, 261, 60–66.

[4] Xie, J., Paalanen, P. P., Van Deelen, T. W., Weckhuysen, B. M., Louwerse, M. J., & De Jong, K. P. (2019). Promoted cobalt metal catalysts suitable for the production of lower olefins from natural gas. Nature Communications, 10(1), 167.References

C.V.

2026-Present

PhD candidate in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, under supervision of Prof. dr. Petra de Jongh, Prof. dr. Bert Weckhuysen, and dr. Florian Meirer.

2024 – 2026

Master’s degree in science and business Management, Utrecht University.

Master thesis in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group entitled: “Synthesis and Modifications of ZSM-22 for the Hydroisomerisation of Long-Chain Paraffins” under supervision of RJ Wolterbeek and prof. dr. Petra de Jongh.

Internship at Avantium, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2021 – 2024

Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Utrecht University.

Bachelor thesis in the Materials Chemistry and Catalysis group entitled: “The effect of ligands on gold nanoparticles and its implication on HMF oxidation performance” under supervision of Hidde Nolten and prof. dr. Petra de Jongh

2014 – 2020

Secondary education at Cals College, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.

2002

Born in Utrecht, The Netherlands.