HYDROGENATION OF CARBON-DIOXIDE ON IRON-MANGANESE CATALYSTS

The synthesis of hydrocarbons from hydrogenation of carbon dioxide has been studied on a series of coprecipitated iron-manganese catalysts. Kinetic measurements, X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reaction of adsorbed species were used for activity tests and catalyst characterizations. The results showed that the yields of low-carbon olefins decrease, whereas the amount of methane increases with increasing manganese content in catalysts. The conversion to hydrocarbons is suppressed by the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction equilibrium. Mossbauer spectra and XRD patterns of catalysts after reaction indicate that catalysts are severely oxidized; it is speculated that the olefin producing surface structure in CO hydrogenation may be destroyed by this oxidation. A pulse-reactor study of the Boudouard reaction showed that manganese has the effect of suppressing CO dissociation and thus decreasing carbon content on catalysts. For CO2 hydrogenation, the affinity to carbon on catalysts is important; therefore manganese is not a good promoter. Among all catalysts tested, pure iron has the best selectivity to olefinic and long-chain hydrocarbons.