Iron oxide-alumina aerogel catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.

Aerogel iron oxide (10, 30, 50 and 100 wt % of iron)-alumina based catalysts were prepared by: (I) co-gelation of alumina sol and complex iron compound followed by drying of the prepared gels under supercritical condition and (II) impregnation of the calcined alumina aerogel with isopropanol iron complex compound solution followed by drying of the obtained product under supercritical conditions and calcination. The influence of aerogel synthesis parameters on bulk density, total specific surface area and pore volume as well as activity of the obtained aerogel catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis was determined.