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Catalytic synthesis of hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen on lamellar compound of graphite intercalated by ferric chloride

Journal Article · · J. Catal.; (United States)

From the thermal gravimetric studies of a lamellar compound of graphite (LCG) intercalated by ferric chloride, it was shown that FeCl/sub 3/ in the intercalated layers was reduced to FeCl/sub 2/ and partly to metallic Fe in flowing H/sub 2/ at 400/sup 0/C; The main constituent in the LCG treated in H/sub 2/ for 1 hr was FeCl/sub 2/, and with an increasing period of H/sub 2/ treatment some part of the FeCl/sub 2/ was further reduced to metallic Fe between the graphite layers. The catalytic activity and selectivity of the reduced LCG for hydrocarbon synthesis from CO and H/sub 2/ were investigated at 300 to 500/sup 0/C and 1 to 20 atm. The catalytic activity of the LCG increased with increasing degree of reduction of the FeCl/sub 2/, suggesting that the activity is attributed to metallic Fe. The main reaction products were C/sub 1/--C/sub 4/ hydrocarbons and the formation of higher hydrocarbons or organic oxygenated compounds was negligible. The LCG catalyst gave hydrocarbons in outstandingly high selectivity (more than 90% at 400/sup 0/C) compared with an Fe catalyst merely supported on graphite which gave considerable amount of CO/sub 2/ with hydrocarbons.

Research Organization:
Waseda Univ., Tokyo, Japan
OSTI ID:
6170450
Journal Information:
J. Catal.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Catal.; (United States) Vol. 57:1; ISSN JCTLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English