High surface area, porous β-SiC has significant potential for use as a catalyst support in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) due to its high hydrothermal stability. In recent times there has been a large amount of work done utilizing β-SiC as catalyst support for FTS but these have been applied to fixed bed reactor (FBR) systems. In this study we first review the existing literature for cobalt supported on β-SiC in FTS and secondly outline selected aspects of our in-house study of water tolerant catalysts for application in slurry phase reactors, which present a more hydrothermally demanding environment than FBR’s. Co/β-SiC catalysts have been prepared by slurry impregnation of cobalt nitrate and tested for the first time in slurry phase CSTR reactors at high water partial pressures (ca 10 bar). These catalysts appear to have a high water tolerance compared to standard refractory oxide catalysts and upon optimal calcination afford excellent activities and low methane selectivity’s. Further modification of the β-SiC surface by acid washing and extended oxidation or surface modification with TiO2 can lead to significant improvements in catalytic performance over the unmodified supports.

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© 2016 Elsevier B.V.