Promoter effect on the CO2-H2O formation during Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on iron-based catalysts

The effects of Mg, La and Ca promoters on primary and secondary CO_2 and H_2O formation pathways during Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on precipitated Fe/Cu/SiO_2 catalysts are investigated. The chemisorbed oxygen atoms in the primary pathway formed in the CO dissociation steps reacted with co-adsorbed hydrogen or carbon monoxide to produce H_2O and CO_2 , respectively. The secondary pathway was the water-gas shift reaction. The results indicated that the CO_2 production led to an increase in both primary and secondary pathways, and H_2 O productiondecreased when surface basicity of the catalyst increased in the order Ca >Mg >La.