Sonochemical and mechanochemical synthesis of iron-based nano-hydrotalcites promoted with Cu and K as catalysts for CO and CO2 Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

A novel class of Fe-based nano hydrotalcites as catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis, with a focus on CO2 hydrogenation have been prepared, characterized and tested. These catalysts were synthesized using two green, energy- and time-saving synthesis methods: ultrasound-assisted co-precipitation and solvent-free mechanochemical syntesis. The catalysts demonstrate very satisfactory CO and CO2 conversion capacities, in particular with good selectivities towards heavy hydrocarbons. The ultrasound-processed variant is particularly noteworthy, displaying about 10 % higher activity under specific conditions. The unique physicochemical properties of these catalysts, which were extensively characterized by XRD, TGA, (ATR) FT-IR, ICP-OES, SEM, TEM, BET, and TPR, are responsible for their remarkable potential for CO and CO2 conversion with varied product distribution. These findings highlight as these iron-based hydrotalcites can be considered as a new promising class of catalyst for CO and CO2 conversion by Fischer-Tropsch reaction.