High loaded supported Fe catalysts for biosyngas conversion: effect of support, diluting materials and preparation procedures

The effect of support and diluting materials was studied in the preparation of iron-supported catalysts for Fischer – Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) loaded with 30%wt of iron and promoted with K (2.0%wt) and Cu (3.75%wt), particularly suitable for the conversion of biomass derived synthesis gas. The use of microwave (MW) and ultrasound (US) treatment as an additional step of the traditional impregnation (TR) in the preparation of the same catalysts was also evaluated. All the catalysts have been characterized by several techniques (BET, TPR, TPD, SEM, XRD and micro-Raman) and tested in a laboratory FTS plant. The use of -Al2O3 and carbon as support and zeolite as diluting materials leads to the highest CO conversion and hydrocarbons selectivity. The morphology of the catalysts is directly influenced by the preparation method and the support. The preparation of catalysts using Ultrasound (US) and the Microwave (MW) techniques offer better results in spite of the equivalents materials prepared by traditional impregnation method.