Synthesis and Characterization of Fe-Catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Using Biosyngas

Fischer–Tropsch technology has gathered renewed interest in the energy industry in recent times for synthesis of diesel and gasoline. The synthesis of linear hydrocarbon diesel fuel (having high cetane number) through Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction requires syngas with high H2/CO molar ratio. Producer gas obtained from biomass gasification has low H2/CO ratios, with significant content of CO2, and hence, is not suitable as feed for FT synthesis using conventional transition metal (usually cobalt and nickel) based catalysts. Catalysts having high water gas shift reaction (WGS) activity are suitable for FT synthesis with biomass derived producer gas, as WGS reaction can compensate for H2 deficiency. Iron catalysts are well-known for their FTS as well as WGS activity. In this study, co-precipitated Fecatalysts with different metal promoters have been synthesized and characterized In this work, we have attempted to identify different intermediate phases involved during transformation of the catalyst. We have done the catalyst characterization using several techniques such as XRD, BET & TPR techniques.