Performance and characterization of iron-nickel catalysts for light olefin production

A series of x(Fe,Ni)/Al2O3 catalysts(x = 2-12 wt%)were prepared using incipient wemess method and studied for the conversion of synthesis gas to light olefins.6 wt%(Fe,Ni)/Al2O3 catalyst was found to be the optimal catalyst for the production of C2-C4 olefins.The effects of calcination behaviors and operational conditions on the catalytic performance of the optimal catalyst were investigated.The best operational conditions were molar feed ratio H2/CO = 2/1,T = 260 ℃,gas hourly space velocity(GHSV)= 2600 h-l and the pressure of 3 bar.Characterizations of both precursors and catalysts were carded out using X-ray diffraction(XRD),temperature-programmed reduction(TPR),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),N2-adsorption-desorption measurement,thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA)and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC).