Influence of the Phase Composition of the Fe/Biochar Catalysts on the Composition of Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Products: The Lapidus Theory of Bifunctional Catalytic Centers

Abstract

Supported iron catalysts based on a carbon-containing material, biochar obtained by the hydrothermal carbonization of biopolymers (cellulose and lignin), were studied. The catalytic systems showed high activity in the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. A composition of C₅₊ liquid products, uncharacteristic for iron-containing catalysts, characterized by high isoalkane content (up to 55%) was recorded. This fact was discussed in the context of the theory of bifunctional centers proposed by A.L. Lapidus with coworkers. It was suggested that the active centers of the test catalysts can be considered bifunctional (a carbide phase and an oxide phase). A correlation between the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis data on the test catalysts and the data obtained by Lapidus and coworkers on cobalt-containing catalysts was shown.