Higher alcohols synthesis via CO hydrogenation on Fe-promoted Co/AC catalysts

• Published in: Catalysis today Vol. 281; pp. 549 - 558
• Main Authors: Du, Hong, Zhu, Hejun, Liu, Tao, Zhao, Ziang, Chen, Xingkun, Dong, Wenda, Lu, Wei, Luo, Wenting, Ding, Yunjie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2017
• Subjects: CO hydrogenation; Co/AC catalyst; Higher alcohols synthesis; Co/AC catalyst; CO hydrogenation; Higher alcohols synthesis; Fe
• ISSN: 0920-5861; 1873-4308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2016.05.023

[Display omitted] •Co-Fe/AC catalysts were prepared and used for the production of mixed higher alcohols.•The moderate amount of Fe promoted the formation of Co2C and Co-Fe alloy species.•The highest activity and yield of alcohols was obtained on the 15Co0.5Fe/AC catalyst.•The fraction of alcohols in liquid phase products is 75% on the 15Co3Fe/AC catalyst.•The Co/Co2C and Co-Fe alloy species are responsible for the alcohols synthesis. Fe-promoted Co/AC catalysts (15CoxFe/AC) were synthesized by co-impregnation method and studied using CO hydrogenation reaction, N2 adsorption, ex-situ/in-situ XRD, H2-TPR, CO chemisorption and HRTEM. The results showed that the catalytic performance was improved by adding Fe into the 15Co/AC catalyst. Appropriate amount of Fe improved metal dispersion and CO uptake, thus leading to the enhancement of catalytic activity. Moreover, the increased selectivity towards C1-C16 alcohols was attributable to the formation of Co2C species and Co-Fe alloy promoted by moderate Fe loading in the 15Co/AC catalyst. The 15Co0.5Fe/AC catalyst showed the highest specific activity and yield of alcohols. In particular, the alcohols fraction in the liquid phase products improved up to 75% with the addition of Fe doping of 3wt% on the 15Co/AC catalyst. It was suggested that Co/Co2C and Co-Fe alloy were responsible for the higher alcohols synthesis via CO hydrogenation over the15CoxFe/AC catalysts.