Iron nitride catalysts stability

It should be noted that the results for the formic acid decomposition donor reaction have no bearing for ammonia synthesis. On the contrary, if that synthesis is indeed governed by nitrogen chemisorption forming a nitride anion, it should behave like an acceptor reaction. Consistent with this view, the apparent activation energy is increased from 10 kcal/mole for the simply promoted catalyst (iron on alumina) to 13-15 kcal/mole by addition of K20. Despite the fact that it retards the reaction, potassium is added to stabilize industrial synthesis catalysts. It has been shown that potassium addition stabilizes the disorder equilibrium of alumina and thus retards its self-diffusion. This, in turn, increases the resistance of the iron/alumina catalyst system to sintering and loss of active surface during use. 

Comparative tests at the Piltsbur i Energy Technology Center with a Fe-Cu - K catalyst revealed a better stability for the nitrided iron catalyst [63]. The precipitated nitrided iron catalyst gave a higher percentage of oxygenates than did nitrided fused iron. 

The group of metals forming low-stability or unstable nitrides includes Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Tc and Re. As in the case of iron a clear structural sensitivity was found for rhenium but the role of promoters remains the subject of discussion. There are also indications of structure sensitivity for cobalt and nickel. It was attempted to improve the activity of the classical magnetite catalyst by alloying with nickel or cobalt. The only commercial catalyst is a cobalt containing magnetite [392],... 

Besides interstitial carbon atoms, nitride groups have also been used to stabilize the cluster structure of iron-rhodium and iron-iridium hydroformylation catalysts [18]. 

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