Synthesis of light olefins from CO hydrogenation over Fe-Mn catalysts: Effect of carburization pretreatment

► Carburizaiton pretreatment promoted CO adsorption on Fe-Mn-K catalysts. ► The catalysts with CO and syngas pretreatment showed much higher selectivity to light olefin than that pretreated with H2. ► Formation of carbide species improved the surface basicity. ► The improved surface basicity reduced the second hydrogenation reaction.