Conversion of synthesis gas to diesel fuel and catalyst therefor

Claim 1

A process for the conversion of synthesis gas consisting essentially of CO and hydrogen to a product high in straight chain paraffins in the diesel fuel boiling range, which comprises contacting said synthesis gas under conversion conditions with a catalyst consisting essentially of cobalt on a high surface area, high purity, low acidity alumina support of gamma-alumina, eta-alumina or mixtures thereof, said catalyst having a hydrogen chemisorption value of from about 100 to about 300 micromol of hydrogen per gram of total catalyst when measured at 25° C., said catalyst having been prepared by (A) impregnation of said alumina support with a non-aqueous, organic solvent impregnation solution of cobalt nitrate containing sufficient amounts of a Group IIIB or IVB metal salt to provide said catalyst with from about 0.05 to about 100 parts by weight of a Group IIIB or IVB metal oxide per 100 parts by weight cobalt, (B) reduction of said impregnated alumina support by heating, in the presence of hydrogen, at a heating rate of from about 0.5° to about 5° C. per minute to a maximum temperature in the range of 180° to about 220° C. for a hold time of 6 to about 24 hours and thereafter heating said impregnated alumina support in the presence of hydrogen while heating up to a maximum hold temperature of from about 250° to about 400° C. for a hold time of 6 to about 65 hours.