Study on the properties of iron–cobalt alumina supported catalyst for ammonia

Abstract

AbstractThe addition of Co to Fe/Al2O3 increases the catalytic activity in NH3 synthesis. The maximum effect is observed for 20% by weight of Co in the metallic phase. Bivalent cobalt atoms replace bivalent iron atoms (a similar ionic radius) in the crystal lattice. This process changes the reducibility of the samples. The Fe‐Co compound and its formation results in the fairly high temperature of reduction (873 K) which is needed to prepare the most active catalyst. Changing the reactor atmosphere from reducing to inert causes the disappearance of free iron (escape of Fe to the crystal lattice of support with formation of a new compound with a spinel character). This is the effect of the iron‐hydrogen interaction. The formation of an intermetallic iron‐cobalt compound is crucial to the catalyst activity. This might be due to the surface restructuring by exposing the most active iron surface, Fe(111). The potassium addition in the form of KOH causes an increase in the catalytic activity. The increase is not as high as for a ‘super basic’ Fe‐Co magnesium hydroxide carbonate supported catalyst studied earlier. A part of the potassium hydroxide is used to neutralize the acid sites on the surface of alumina.