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 wetness 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 °C, gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) = 2600 h−1 and the pressure of 3 bar. Characterizations of both precursors and catalysts were carried 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).