Controllable Fe/HCS catalysts in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Effects of crystallization time

doi:10.1007/s11705-019-1866-4

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2020, Vol. 14

Issue (5) : 802-812 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-019-1866-4

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Controllable Fe/HCS catalysts in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Effects of crystallization time

Yifei Wang, Shouying Huang, Xinsheng Teng, Hongyu Wang, Jian Wang, Qiao Zhao, Yue Wang, Xinbin Ma(

)

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

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Abstract

The Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) continues to be an attractive alternative for producing a broad range of fuels and chemicals through the conversion of syngas (H₂ and CO), which can be derived from various sources, such as coal, natural gas, and biomass. Among iron carbides, Fe₂C, as an active phase, has barely been studied due to its thermodynamic instability. Here, we fabricated a series of Fe₂C embedded in hollow carbon sphere (HCS) catalysts. By varying the crystallization time, the shell thickness of the HCS was manipulated, which significantly influenced the catalytic performance in the FTS. To investigate the relationship between the geometric structure of the HCS and the physic-chemical properties of Fe species, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N₂ physical adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, Raman spectroscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy techniques were employed to characterize the catalysts before and after the reaction. Evidently, a suitable thickness of the carbon layer was beneficial for enhancing the catalytic activity in the FTS due to its high porosity, appropriate electronic environment, and relatively high Fe₂C content.

Keywords Fischer–Tropsch synthesis Fe-based catalyst Fe₂C hollow carbon sphere crystallization time

Corresponding Author(s): Xinbin Ma

Just Accepted Date: 15 November 2019 Online First Date: 02 January 2020 Issue Date: 25 May 2020

Cite this article:

Yifei Wang,Shouying Huang,Xinsheng Teng, et al. Controllable Fe/HCS catalysts in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Effects of crystallization time[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(5): 802-812.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-019-1866-4
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2020/V14/I5/802

Fig.1 TEM images, the STD histograms, and the PSD histograms of the (a) Fe/HCS-12, (b) Fe/HCS-24, (c) Fe/HCS-36, and (d) Fe/HCS-48 catalysts.

Tab.1 Shell thickness, particle size, Fe content, and textual properties of the Fe/HCS catalysts

Fig.2 XRD patterns of the Fe/HCS catalysts.

Fig.3 (a) N₂ physisorption isotherms and (b) pore-size distribution of the Fe/HCS catalysts.

Fig.4 XPS spectra of the Fe/HCS catalysts.

Fig.5 H₂-TPR of the Fe/HCS catalysts.

Fig.6 CO conversion with time on stream of the Fe/HCS catalysts.

Tab.2 FTS activity and selectivity of the Fe/HCS catalysts^a)

Fig.7 The TEM images, HR-TEM images, and PSD of the used (a) Fe/HCS-12, (b) Fe/HCS-24, (c) Fe/HCS-36, and (d) Fe/HCS-48 catalysts.

Fig.8 XRD patterns of the used Fe/HCS catalysts.

Fig.9 Raman spectra of the used Fe/HCS catalysts.

Fig.10 ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrum of the used Fe/HCS catalysts.

Tab.3 ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer parameters of the used Fe/HCS catalysts

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