Feasibility study on the use of MIL-53(Al) as a support for iron catalysts in the CO hydrogenation reaction

The study examined the potential use of MIL-53(Al), a metal-organic compound created through solvothermal synthesis, as a support for iron catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS). Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a crucial aspect of Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) technology used in the petrochemical industry to produce light olefins. The catalyst’s activity was assessed under specific conditions, including a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 2700 h-1, a hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H2/CO) feed ratio of 2:1, temperatures ranging from 310 to 330 ℃, and pressures ranging from 5 to 9 bar. The feasibility study indicated that MIL-53(Al) has the potential to be a suitable support for iron catalysts in FTS, resulting in the production of light olefins (24%) at high temperatures and low pressure.