Recent Advances in Bifunctional Catalysts for the Fischer–Tropsch Process: One-Stage Production of Liquid Hydrocarbons from Syngas

Abstract

Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis is an important reaction for the alternative production of high-quality liquid fuels, which promote sustainable development by enabling economical decarbonization. The one-stage FT process involves both hydrocarbon growth and hydrocracking/isomerization in a single step and is more energy and cost efficient than the two-stage process. Bifunctional catalysts, composed of acid and metal sites, are needed in order to achieve one-step synthesis. In this review, we discuss the state of the art concerning the use of bifunctional catalysts for the one-stage FT process, focusing on the effect of metal and acid sites on the catalytic performance. Several supports with potential utility for the one-stage FT process were analyzed, including zeolites, clays, alumina, silica, aluminosilicates, and carbons, and the advantages and disadvantages of each are evaluated.