Preparation of Nano-Sized γ-Al_2O_3 Supported Iron Catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis by Solvated Metal Atom Impregnation Methods

Two types of small iron clusters supported on γ-Al2O3-RT（dehydroxylated at room temperature） and γ-Al2O3-800 （dehydroxylated at 800 ℃） were prepared by solvated metal atom impregnation （SMAI） techniques. The iron atom precursor complex, bis（toluene）iron（0） formed in the metal atom reactor, was impregnated into γ-Al2O3 having different concentrations of surface hydroxyl groups to study the effect of surface hydroxylation on the crucial stage of iron cluster formation. Catalysts prepared in this way were characterized by TEM, Mǒssbauer, and chemisorption measurements, and the results show that higher concentration of surface hydroxyl groups of γ-Al2O3-RT favors the formation of more positively charged supported iron cluster Fen/γ-Al2O3-RT, and the lower concentration of surface hydroxyl groups of γ-Al2O3-800 favors the formation of basically neutral supported iron cluster Fen/γ-Al2O3-800. The measured results also indicate that the higher concentration of surface hydroxyl groups causes the rapid decomposition of precursor complex, bis（toluene）iron（0）, and favors the formation of relatively large iron cluster. Consequently, these two types of catalysts show different catalytic properties in Fischer-Tropsch reaction. The catalytic pattern of Fen/γ-Al2O3-RT in F-T reaction is similar to that of the unreduced γ-Fe2O3 and that of Fen/γ-Al2O3-800 is similar to that of the reduced α-Fe2O3.

Preparation of Highly Dispersed Supported Metal Catalysts via Solvated Metal Atom Impregnation ( V) --The Effects of Hydroxyl Group on the Surface Concentrations of SiO2 on the Properties of Supported Fe Clusters

Two kinds of small iron clusters supported on SiO2-200 (dehydroxylated at 200℃ and SiO2-600 (de-hydroxylated at 600℃) were prepared by Solvated Metal Atom Impregnation (SMAI) techniques. The iron atom precursor complex, bis (toluene) iron(0) formed in the metal atom reactor, was impregnated into SiO2 having different concentrations of surface hydroxyl groups to study the effect of surface hydroxylation on the crucial stage of iron cluster formation. Catalysts prepared in this way were characterized by THM, Mosbauer and chemisorption measurements, and the resules show that higher concentration of surface hydroxyl groups of SiO2-200 favours the formation of more positively charged support iron cluster Fen/SiO2-200 and the lower concentration of surface hydroxyl groups of SiO2-600 favours the formation of basically neutral supported iron cluster Fe2/SiO2-600. The measured results also indicate that the higher concentration of surface hydroxyl groups causes the precursor complex,bis(toluene) fron(0), to decompose more rapidly, and favours the formation of relatively large iron cluster. As a consequence, these two kinds of catalysts show different catalytic properties in Fischer-Tropsch reaction. The catalytic pattern of Fe/SiO2-200 in F-T reaction is similar to that of the unreduced a-Fe2O2, while Fe2/SiO2 -600 is similar to that of reduced α-Fe2O2.

Effect of environmental factors on the complexation of iron and humic acid

A method of size exclusion chromatography coupled with ultraviolet spectrophotometry and off-line graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was developed to assess the complexation properties of iron（Fe） and humic acid（HA） in a water environment. The factors affecting the complexation of Fe and HA, such as ionic strength, pH, temperature and UV radiation, were investigated. The Fe–HA complex residence time was also studied. Experimental results showed that pH could influence the deprotonation of HA and hydrolysis of Fe, and thus affected the complexation of Fe and HA. The complexation was greatly disrupted by the presence of NaCl. Temperature had some influence on the complexation. The yield of Fe–HA complexes showed a small decrease at high levels of UV radiation, but the effect of UV radiation on Fe–HA complex formation at natural levels could be neglected. It took about 10 hr for the complexation to reach equilibrium, and the Fe–HA complex residence time was about 20 hr.Complexation of Fe and HA reached a maximum level under the conditions of pH 6, very low ionic strength, in the dark and at a water temperature of about 25°C, for 10 hr. It was suggested that the Fe–HA complex could form mainly in freshwater bodies and reach high levels in the warm season with mild sunlight radiation. With changing environmental parameters, such as at lower temperature in winter or higher pH and ionic strength in an estuary, the concentration of the Fe–HA complex would decrease.