Effect of Iron Precursor on Catalytic Performance of Precipitated Iron Catalyst for Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Reaction

Abstract

In this study, we synthesized three precipitated iron catalysts using continuous co-precipitation method with three different iron precursors: ferric nitrate Fe(NO3)3, ferrous sulfate FeSO4, ferrous oxalate FeC2O4. The catalysts were characterized with XRD, SEM, XPS, N2 sorption and H2-TPR, respectively. The results indicated that the phases of catalysts using ferrous salts as iron precursor were composed of Fe2O3 and Fe3O4. Especially, the catalyst sample prepared by ferrous oxalate (Fe–C) exhibited the largest crystallite size, the highest crystallinity (99.78%), and the easiest reducibility. Fischer–Tropsch synthesis reaction was carried out to study the catalytic performance of three precipitated iron catalysts. In comparison with the other two catalysts, Fe–C has showed ability of the highest catalytic activity, the best stability and the highest selectivity of C5+ hydrocarbons. All the results lead us to draw a conclusion that the properties of iron precursors can notably affect morphology, phase structure, reduction behaviors and catalytic performances of the catalyst.