Fischer-Tropsch synthesis performance of iron Nanocatalyst confined in mesopores of MFI zeolite nanosponge

초록

An MFI zeolite with a nanosponge morphology was synthesized by the method of using zeolite structuredirecting diammonium surfactant. The zeolite nanosponge was composed of 2.5-nm thick MFI frameworks, which were interconnected in a 3D manner to possess an approximately 4-nm mesopore system. When 30- wt% iron species were supported as an active species on the zeolite nanosponge, it exhibited a high catalytic activity and very long catalytic lifetime for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, compared to when supported on typical gamma-alumina. Using various material characterization tools, it was confirmed that iron existed as an interconnected network within the 3D mesoporous system. Due to this network morphology, which was inseparably embedded within the zeolite nanosponge, the Fe/zeolite catalyst is believed to show excellent stability against metal sintering. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of the Fe/zeolite could be further improved by up to 78% through the incorporation of promoters such as K, La and Mg.

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