Textural characterization of a new iron-based ammonia synthesis catalyst [articol]

Abstract

A new iron- based promoted catalyst designed to be charged into the industrial radial- axial flow reactor was investigated in an Accelerated Surface Area and Porosity Analyzer- Micrometrics ASAP 2020. The primary experimental curve was identified as an adsorption/ desorption isotherm of type IV with H1 hysteresis. The main textural parameters (surface area, pore volume / porosity, pore size distribution (PSD) and average pore diameter) have been assessed usind six calculation methods : Langmuir model, BET equation, Single point method, t- Plot method, BJD adsorption, and BJH desorption. The surface area was between 12.33 m2 /g (Single point method) and 17.48 m2 /g (Langmuir model). From BET surface area the t- Plot has shown that about 9% was due to micro- pores. The average pore diameter derived from BJH adsorption model was of 16.72 nm. The determined parameters predict a better activity of the new catalyst compared to the traditional one.