Promoter effect of Cu, Co and K on Fe/MgO in CO hydrogenation

Abstract

Promoter effects of Cu, Co and K on Fe/MgO catalysts in CO hydrogenation have been investigated. The catalytic activity and selectivity are related to the physical properties and to the state of iron observed by XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The activity increase upon Cu and Co promotion is explained by different promoter-metal interactions. Decreased activity of the potassium-promoted catalyst is related to the enhanced carbonization of iron under the reaction conditions. Enhanced selectivity towards alcohols on all three promoted catalysts is attributed to new active sites generated during the initial period of the reaction and located at the interface between the different iron species and the support. © 1992.