The present invention relates to a process for producing a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst wherein from 15 to 40 mol. % of the cobalt thereon is in the form of cobalt oxide. The present invention also relates to a start-up process for a reduced-and-passivated cobalt-containing Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, wherein from 15 to 40 mol. % of the cobalt thereon is in the form of cobalt oxide and the reduced-and-passivated catalyst is activated by contacting the catalyst with a syngas stream.

The present invention relates to catalysts, more particularly to a cobalt-containing catalyst composition. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst precursor, a process for preparing a cobalt-containing catalyst, and a hydrocarbon synthesis process wherein such a catalyst is used. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cobalt-containing catalyst composition comprising cobalt and/or a cobalt compound supported on and/or in a catalyst support; the catalyst composition also including a titanium compound on and/or in the catalyst support, and a manganese compound on and/or in the catalyst support.

The present invention is directed to unique processes, catalysts and systems for the direct production of liquid fuels (e.g., premium diesel fuel) from synthesis gas produced from natural feedstocks such as natural gas, natural gas liquids, carbon dioxide or other similar compounds or materials. In one aspect, the present invention provides a process for the production of a hydrocarbon mixture comprising the steps of: a) reducing a catalyst in-situ in a fixed bed reactor; b) reacting a feed gas that contains hydrogen and carbon monoxide with the catalyst to produce a hydrocarbon product stream, wherein the hydrocarbon product stream comprises light gases, a diesel fuel and a wax, and wherein the diesel fuel fraction is produced without requiring the hydroprocessing of wax, and wherein the catalyst comprises one or more metals deposited on a gamma alumina support at greater than about 5 weight percent, and wherein platinum or rhenium is included on the support in an amount ranging from about 0.01 weight percent and about 2 weight percent as a promoter, and wherein the catalyst has surface pore diameters between about 100 and 150 Angstroms, sub-surface pore diameters between 10 and 30 Angstroms a crush strength greater than about 3 lbs./mm, a mean effective pellet radius less than about 600 microns, and a BET surface area greater than about 100 m.sup.2/g, and wherein the diesel fuel comprises more than about 70 percent C.sub.8-C.sub.24 hydrocarbons.

Catalyst systems are provided, along with corresponding methods, for single stage conversion of synthesis gas to fuel boiling range products with increased selectivity for either naphtha production (C.sub.5-C.sub.9) or distillate production (C.sub.10-C.sub.20). The increased selectivity for naphtha production or distillate production is provided in conjunction with a reduced selectivity for higher boiling range components (C.sub.21+).

A method is disclosed for rejuvenation a cobalt Fischer Tropsch catalyst used in a Fischer Tropsch process operating in recycle mode. The method permits the use of specific inert gases to adjust the mole weight of the gas so that the recycle compressor designed for normal steady state operation can also be used in the method. Hydrogen from a membrane permeate stream is added to the reactor loop at a temperature between 300 F and 400 F and the carbon oxides are reacted out to purify the hydrogen. This stream is continuously recycled and the temperature is raised to between 425 F and 500 F and held at the final temperature for between 4 hours and 48 hours. The cobalt Fischer Tropsch catalyst is effectively rejuvenated in-situ by the method.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a cobalt-containing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst with good physical properties and high cobalt loading. In one aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing a supported cobalt-containing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, said process comprising the following steps of: (a) impregnating a support powder or granulate with a cobalt-containing compound; (b) calcining the impregnated support powder or granulate and extruding to form an extrudate; or extruding the impregnated support powder or granulate to form an extrudate and calcining the extrudate; and (c) impregnating the calcined product with a cobalt-containing compound; or forming a powder or granulate of the calcined product, impregnating with a cobalt-containing compound and extruding to form an extrudate.

A plasmonic nanoparticle catalyst for producing hydrocarbon molecules by light irradiation, which comprises at least one plasmonic provider and at least one catalytic property provider, wherein the plasmonic provider and the catalytic property provider are in contact with each other or have distance less than 200 nm, and molecular composition of the hydrocarbon molecules produced by light irradiation is temperature-dependent. And a method for producing hydrocarbon molecules by light irradiation utilizing the plasmonic nanoparticle catalyst.

The present invention relates to a process for conveniently preparing a supported cobalt-containing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst having improved activity and selectivity for C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons. In one aspect, the present invention provides a process for preparing a supported cobalt-containing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst, said process comprising the steps of: (a) impregnating a support material with: i) a cobalt-containing compound and ii) acetic acid, or a manganese salt of acetic acid, in a single impregnation step to form an impregnated support material; and (b) drying and calcining the impregnated support material; wherein the support material impregnated in step (a) has not previously been modified with a source of metal other than cobalt; and wherein when the cobalt-containing compound is cobalt hydroxide, a manganese salt of acetic acid is not used in step (a) of the process.

The present invention is directed to the preparation of a cobalt containing catalyst, a precipitate as an intermediate product, a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst and a process for producing normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from synthesis gas. The precipitate and catalyst comprise crystalline Co(OH)(CO3)0.5, the crystals are needle shaped and have a surface area of at least 80 m.sup.2/g dry precipitate.

Provided is a method for producing organic molecules having at least two carbon atoms chained together by the reaction of a hydrogen-containing source, a carbon-containing source and an optional nitrogen-containing source in the presence of a nanostructure or nanostructures, wherein the reaction is initiated by heat.