Kinetics studies of nano-structured iron catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Kinetic parameters of nano-structured iron catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) were studied in a wide range of synthesis gas conversions and compared with conventional catalyst. The conventional Fe/Cu/La catalyst was prepared by co-precipitation of Fe and Cu nitrates in aqueous media and Fe/Cu/La nanostructure catalyst was prepared by co-precipitation in a water-in-oil micro-emulsion. Nano-structured iron catalyst shows higher FTS activity. Kinetic results indicated that in FTS rate expression, the rate constant (k) increased and adsorption parameter (b) decreased by decreasing the catalyst particle size from conventional to nano-structured. Since increasing in the rate constant and decreasing in the adsorption parameter affected the FTS rate in parallel direction, the particle size of catalyst showed complicated effects on kinetic parameters of FTS reaction.