Cardiff University | Prifysgol Caerdydd ORCA
Online Research @ Cardiff 
WelshClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

Tuning potassium concentration in empowered supports for Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis

Ketlogetswe, Oaitse Percy, Khasu, Motlokoa, Marquart, Wijnand, Drivas, Charalampos, McShane, Evangeline B., Kondrat, Simon A., Grzybek, Gabriela, Stelmachowski, Paweł, Kotarba, Andrzej, Claeys, Michael and Fischer, Nico 2026. Tuning potassium concentration in empowered supports for Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis. ChemCatChem 18 (1) , e01430. 10.1002/cctc.202501430

[thumbnail of ChemCatChem - 2025 - Ketlogetswe - Tuning Potassium Concentration in Empowered Supports for Fischer‐Tropsch Synthesis.pdf]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

Potassium substitution in the A site of a LaAl0.8Mn0.2O3-δ perovskite was investigated as a strategy to anchor the promoter within a crystalline matrix thus suppressing its mobility under reaction conditions and enhancing the performance of iron-based Fischer-Tropsch (FT) catalysts. A series of La1-xKxAl0.8Mn0.2O3-δ (x = 0 to 8 at.%) perovskites was prepared and subsequently loaded with pre-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles. Quantitative in situ X-ray diffraction revealed that potassium incorporation delays the reduction of the Fe3O4 phase and accelerates the rate of carburization, resulting in a higher crystalline iron carbide content at increased potassium concentrations. Under low temperature FT conditions (240 °C, 15 bar, H2/CO = 2) CO conversion and CO2 selectivity increased with potassium loading, while C5 + selectivity peaked at 2 at.% potassium in the A site of the perovskite lattice. At the same loading, thermal alkali desorption and X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies revealed that potassium remains strongly anchored within the lattice yet sufficiently electronically active to enhance CO activation without over-promoting the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction, thereby maximizing chain growth selectivity. These results highlight the potential of fine-tuning concentrations of promoters in empowered supports to optimize catalyst performance, offering a stable and controllable alternative to conventional deposition or impregnation methods.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Schools > Chemistry
Research Institutes & Centres > Cardiff Catalysis Institute (CCI)
Publisher: Wiley
ISSN: 1867-3880
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 13 January 2026
Date of Acceptance: 23 December 2025
Last Modified: 04 Feb 2026 11:47
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183821

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item Edit Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics