US Patent 7547657 Heat treated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles

The invention provides heat treated self-supported precipitated α-Fe2O3-based Fischer-Tropsch catalyst particles. The catalyst particles are breakage resistant, thus inhibiting the formation of catalyst fines in the Fischer-Tropsch reactor, thereby maintaining the performance of the reactor and reducing the contamination of down stream processes and catalysts by the catalyst fines. The catalyst particles also exhibit superior synthesis performance in low temperature Fischer-Tropsch processes, e.g., slurry bed reactor processes for the production of wax and other syncrudes. The invention also provides a method for producing the particles and a process for using the particles.