Catalytic assessment of Fe-La-Zr trimetallic mixed oxides in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using bio-syngas

H2/CO/CO2 gaseous mixtures obtained by biomass gasification (bio-syngas) could be used to obtain hydrocarbons by the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). In this work, trimetallic Fe–La–Zr mixed oxides prepared by coprecipitation with oxalic acid were studied in the synthesis of hydrocarbons from bio-syngas at 300 °C and 10 bar. Catalysts obtained by calcination at 700 °C are activated by the bio-syngas and the one that contains 30 wt% of Fe attains steady CO conversion levels of 75% and a total hydrocarbon yield of 34%–36%. A liquid product containing hydrocarbons in the range C5–C13 is formed together with C1–C4 products. Potassium promotion (6 wt%) allows to increase CO conversion (∼89%) and hydrocarbons yield (∼44%). Catalysts obtained by calcination at 900 °C display higher activation times due to their crystalline structure, although they attain final activity levels close to the amorphous ones obtained by calcination at 700 °C.