In the present work, the performance of the cobalt catalyst supported on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is studied. The g-C3N4 support was synthesized using three different precursors: urea (GNU), melamine (GNM) and urea- melamine mixture (GNMU). Then, the cobalt catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method. The BET, FTIR, TGA, TPR, FESEM, and XRD results indicate that the prepared catalysts have a different surface area, cobalt particle size, and total pore-volume. The TPR results show that nitrogen atoms in g-C3N4 support improved the cobalt reduction. The FTS activity and product selectivity show that the Co/GNU catalyst with the smallest cobalt particle size has the most turnover frequency (TOF). The FTS activity and selectivity to light products for cobalt supported on g-C3N4 is higher than cobalt supported carbon nanotubes (Co/CNTs). It is concluded that the electron donor property of nitrogen atoms in g-C3N4 support increased the reducibility of cobalt oxides in the reduction process and formation of short-chain hydrocarbons in FTS.

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