Synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO and H 2 in the presence of catalysts based on mononuclear iron complexes

Abstract

Summary 1. Catalysts prepared by applying various complexes containing Fe on Al 2 O 3 activated by potassium, are active in the synthesis of C 1 −C 3 hydrocarbons from CO and H 2 at 350°–450°C under ambient pressure. According to the reduction of activity catalysts may be grouped as follows: Fe(CO) 5 −K−Al 2 O 3 ; Fe(acac) 3 −K−Al 2 O 3 ; Fe(C 5 H 5 ) 2 −K−Al 2 O 3 . The Fe(acac) 3 −K−Al 2 O 3 catalyst has the highest selectivity in the formation of C 2 H 4 and C 3 H 6 . 2. IR spectroscopy was used to show that carbonyl complexes of iron break down irreversibly on the surface of carriers at temperatures above 400°C and are not active centres of the catalyst.