Solution combustion synthesis of Fe2O3-based catalyst for ammonia synthesis

Abstract

Fe2 O3-based catalysts were prepared by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) with metal nitrates (Fe, K, Al, Ca) as the precursors and glycine as the fuel. The activities of catalysts were evaluated in terms of ammonia synthesis reaction rate in a fixed bed reactor similar to the industrial reactors. The results indicate that the precursor of catalyst prepared by SCS is Fe2 O3 which facilitates the high dispersion of promoters to provide high activity. The catalysts exhibit higher activity for ammonia synthesis than that of traditional catalysts, and the reaction rate reaches 138.5 mmol g−1 h−1 . Fe2 O3 prepared by SCS could be favorable precursor for ammonia synthesis catalyst. The present study provides a pathway to prepare catalyst for ammonia synthesis.