Fischer-Tropsch (FT) 합성은 CO와 H2를 이용하여 액체 연료 또는 올레핀 등 탄화수소를 생산하는 기술로, 특히 최근

탄소중립 달성을 위해 대체연료에 대한 수요가 늘면서 큰 주목을 받고 있다. 액체 연료를 효과적으로 생산하기 위해

다양한 촉매들이 연구되고 있으며, 그 중 제올라이트는 특유의 기공 구조와 산점을 활용하여 촉매 성능 향상에 기여한

다고 알려져 있다. 또한, 제올라이트의 기공 특성에 따라 생성물 분포가 결정되기도 한다. 예를 들어, 크기가 2 nm 이

하의 기공을 갖는 미세다공성 제올라이트는 형상 선택성을 제공하여 가솔린 범위의 가지형 탄화수소를 형성할 수 있

지만 물질 확산의 한계가 있다. 이러한 문제를 해결하고자 2~50 nm 크기의 메조기공을 제올라이트에 도입하는 전략

이 등장하였으며, 이를 도입한 메조 및 위계다공성 제올라이트는 물질 전달을 개선해 촉매 성능 및 공정 효율을 더욱

높일 수 있게 되었다. 따라서, 본 총설은 제올라이트 기반 FT 촉매의 연구 동향을 다루며, 제올라이트의 담지체로서의

역할을 분석하였다. 또한, 메조 및 위계다공성 제올라이트의 Si/Al 비율, 합성 방법, 금속 담지량 등이 FT 생성물 선택

도에 미치는 영향을 여러 사례들을 통해 자세히 알아보고, 향후 연구 방향에 대해 제언하고자 한다.

Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis converts CO and H2 into hydrocarbons, including liquid fuels and olefins.

This process has recently gained significant attention due to the growing demand for alternative fuels in pursuit of

carbon neutrality. To efficiently produce liquid fuels, various catalysts have been investigated, among which zeolites are

known to enhance catalytic performance through their unique pore structures and acid sites. The product distribution is

governed by the pore characteristics of the zeolite. For instance, microporous zeolites with pore sizes of 2 nm or less

provide shape selectivity that enables the formation of branched hydrocarbons in the gasoline range, but they suffer from

mass-transfer limitations. To address this issue, strategies introducing mesopores of 2–50 nm into zeolites have emerged;

mesoporous and hierarchical zeolites improve mass transfer, thereby further enhancing catalytic performance and

process efficiency. Accordingly, this review surveys research trends in zeolite-based FT catalysts, analyzing the roles of

zeolites as supports. It also details, through numerous case studies, how factors such as Si/Al ratio, synthesis method,

and metal loading influence FT product selectivity, and proposes directions for future research.

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, Zeolites, Bifunctional catalysts, Hydrocarbon isomerization, Gasoline range selectivity

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