Mechanisms of iron-based catalysis investigated using model compounds

Abstract

The catalytic mechanism of highly active, nanophase, iron-based coal liquefaction catalysts was investigated using a series of model compounds. The iron-oxide phases ferric oxyhydroxysulfate (OHS), 6-line ferrihydrite, hematite, and goethite, were evaluated as catalyst precursors with systematically substituted diphenylmethanes in the presence of a hydrogen donating solvent. The activity of the catalysts was observed to be dependent upon the functionality on the model compounds. The results of these model compound studies and their relationship to possible reaction mechanisms are presented.