A short review of our results is presented on the use of high temperature plasma technology in producing catalysts for application in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). Nanometric carbon-supported catalysts based primarily on Co and Fe with various metal formulations were synthesized using an induction suspension plasma-spray (SPS) system. The active catalytic species of the metals and the C-matrix support composing both graphitic (G) and amorphous (D; disordered) carbon were all simultaneously

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... nerated in situ within the plasma. The Co/C catalyst was the most active when tested for FTS with high selectivity towards the longer hydrocarbon chains. At 220 °C, 2MPa pressure; gas hourly specific velocity of over 3,600cm 3 .h -1 .g -1 of catalyst, it indicated ~40% CO conversion with the following selectivity expressed as % in the products: 30% gasoline (C 5 -C 12 ), 45% diesel (C 13 -C 20 ), and 21% waxes (C 21+ ), with less than 4% CH 4 and trace amounts of CO 2 . Other catalysts tested include Fe/C, bimetallic Co-Fe/C formulations and those promoted with Ni, Mo, and Au-Ni. It has been shown that particle size influences FTS when using plasma-synthesized catalysts: thus, particles in the mean size range of 9-11nm were more selective towards the diesel fraction and waxes, while larger particles of mean size of 14-21nm produced more gasoline. Since SPS technology is a relatively new approach in catalyst synthesis, being a one-step process potentially offers an overall higher efficiency and new prospects for the commercial production of synthetic fuels through FTS.