A Core/Shell Catalyst Produces a Spatially Confined Effect and Shape Selectivity in a Consecutive Reaction

A well-wrapped catalyst: Coating an H-beta zeolite membrane onto the surface of a preshaped Co/Al2O3 pellet leads to a novel core/shell catalyst with a confined reaction environment which shows excellent selectivity for the synthesis of isoparaffins from syngas (see picture; FT=Fischer–Tropsch). Long-chain hydrocarbon formation is totally suppressed by the zeolite membrane. This kind of membrane catalyst could be extended to various other consecutive reactions by modifying the shell membrane and the core catalyst.