Ultrasound and microwave assisted synthesis of high loading Fe-supported Fischer–Tropsch catalysts

Supported iron-based Fischer–Tropsch (FT) catalysts with high loading of active metal have been prepared using both traditional and innovative methods. In these latter the impregnation of silica support has been performed by adding a step involving an ultrasound (US) or a microwave (MW) treatment to improve the metal deposition and to increase the catalyst activity. FT results have indicated the catalysts prepared by US as the most efficient, particularly when sonication is performed in argon atmosphere. MW prepared samples have given results very similar to those obtained with the traditional method. In order to explain the different catalytic activity, all the samples have been characterized by BET, TPR, SEM, TEM, XRD and micro-Raman analyses.