High C2-C4 selectivity in CO2 hydrogenation by particle size control of Co-Fe alloy nanoparticles wrapped on N-doped graphitic carbon
Lu Peng,
Bogdan Jurca,
Ana Primo,
Alvaro Gordillo,
Vasile I. Parvulescu,
Hermenegildo García
Affiliations
Lu Peng
Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av. De Los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Bogdan Jurca
Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, Bdul Regina Elisabeta 4-12, Bucharest 030016, Romania
Ana Primo
Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av. De Los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Alvaro Gordillo
BASF SE, 67056 Ludwigshafen Am Rhein, Germany
Vasile I. Parvulescu
Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and Catalysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, Bdul Regina Elisabeta 4-12, Bucharest 030016, Romania; Corresponding author
Hermenegildo García
Instituto Universitario de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av. De Los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain; Corresponding author
Summary: A catalyst based on first-row Fe and Co with a record of 51% selectivity to C2-C4 hydrocarbons at 36% CO2 conversion is disclosed. The factors responsible for the C2+ selectivity are a narrow Co-Fe particle size distribution of about 10 nm and embedment in N-doped graphitic matrix. These hydrogenation catalysts convert CO2 into C2-C4 hydrocarbons, including ethane, propane, n-butane, ethylene and propylene together with methane, CO. Selectivity varies depending on the catalyst, CO2 conversion, and the operation conditions. Operating with an H2/CO2 ratio of 4 at 300°C and pressure on 5 bar, a remarkable combined 30% of ethylene and propylene at 34% CO2 conversion was achieved. The present results open the way to develop an economically attractive process for CO2 reduction leading to products of higher added value and longer life cycles with a substantial selectivity.
