The review is dedicated to the topical field of research aimed at creating catalysts combining several types of active sites. At the same time, the composition of Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) products can be controlled by changing the strength and concentration of the active sites and inter-site distances. A comparative analysis of the literature data allows to formulate the main principles of catalytic particles formation active in FTS and acid-catalyzed transformations of hydrocarbons: (1) the presence of weak Bronsted acid sites to control the cracking depth, (2) an availability of Bronsted acid sites for re-adsorption hydrocarbons and (3) weak Co-zeolite interaction to reduce methane formation.

It is found that the main role of zeolite in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis on a composite Co catalysts is to reduce the average molecular weight of hydrocarbons produced from CO and H2on acid sites....

The role of a zeolite in the H-form in heat and mass transfer in pellets of a composite Co catalyst for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) has been studied. It has been shown that the introduction of a heat-conducting additive—metallic aluminum—into the catalyst composition leads to an increase in the thermal stability of the pellets; however, it does not provide high productivity. The introduction of a zeolite into the catalyst contributes to the intensification of mass transfer owing to a decrease in the density and average boiling point of the resulting liquid hydrocarbons. In this case, heat transfer is further improved due to heat removal owing to the heat capacity of the removed products. According to the studies on the conversion of liquid hydrocarbons under FTS conditions, a mechanism of the simultaneous occurrence of these processes in the presence of a cobalt–zeolite catalyst has been proposed.

Redox properties of catalytic environment, namely He as neutral, H₂ as reducing and H₂–H₂O as reducing–oxidative one, determine the conversion of hydrocarbons on Co–zeolite catalysts at 170–260 °C as well as product distribution. The highest yield of isomerized products was achieved in reducing medium, while the methane formation was suppressed most efficiently in neutral and reducing–oxidative environments. Two distinct ranges can be identified for temperature dependencies of reaction parameters, namely 170–210 and 220–260 °C.