We demonstrate use of a facile, scalable, modified photo-Fenton process for the preparation of carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. Use of a green catalyst precursor and an oxidant in photo-Fenton process enhances the formation of small and well-dispersed catalyst particles on CNTs. Catalysts prepared by photo-Fenton process do not require a calcination step due to the absence of foreign components (nitrate, chloride, and acetate) that have to be removed during post-synthesis treatment. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). H2-TPR results show a high dispersion percentage and smaller catalyst particles with narrow particle size distributions. The performance of catalysts (CO conversion, C5+ selectivity, and catalyst lifetime) prepared by photo-Fenton process was evaluated during FTS and compared to CNT- and SiO2-supported catalysts synthesized via conventional method (incipient wetness impregnation). In general, CNT-based catalysts prepared by photo-Fenton process (Co or Fe) show a higher performance at lower reaction temperature (200˚C for Co and 250˚C for Fe) in comparison to conventional catalysts. In particular, Co catalysts obtained from photo-Fenton process show outstanding selectivity for liquid hydrocarbons (C5+) ~ 70% and CO conversion ~80%.
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