The
reduction of Fe-based nanocomposite catalysts doped with Al
and Cu has been studied using in situ X-ray diffraction
(XRD), in situ X-ray absorption near-edge structure
(XANES), and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) techniques. The
catalysts have been synthesized by melting of iron, aluminum, and
copper salts. According to XRD, the catalysts consist mainly of Fe2O3 and Al2O3 phases. Alumina
is in an amorphous state, whereas iron oxide forms nanoparticles with
the protohematite structure. The Al3+ cations are partially
dissolved in the Fe2O3 lattice. Due to strong
alumina–iron oxide interaction, the specific surface area of
the catalysts increases significantly. TPR and XANES data indicate
that copper forms highly dispersed surface CuO nanoparticles and partially
dissolves in iron oxide. It has been shown that the reduction of iron(III)
oxide by CO proceeds via two routes: a direct two-stage reduction
of iron(III) oxide to metal (Fe2O3 →
Fe3O4 → Fe) or an indirect three-stage
reduction with the formation of FeO intermediate phases (Fe2O3 → Fe3O4 → FeO →
Fe). The introduction of Al into Fe2O3 leads
to a decrease in the rate for all reduction steps. In addition, the
introduction of Al stabilizes small Fe3O4 particles
and prevents further sintering of the iron oxide. The mechanism of
stabilization is associated with the formation of Fe3–x
Al
x
O4 solid
solution. The addition of copper to the Fe–Al catalyst leads
to the formation of highly dispersed CuO particles on the catalyst
surface and a mixed oxide with a spinel-type crystalline structure
similar to that of CuFe2O4. The low-temperature
reduction of Cu2+ to Cu0 accelerates the Fe2O3 → Fe3O4 and FeO
→ Fe transformations but does not affect the Fe3O4 → FeO/Fe stages. These changes in the reduction
properties significantly affect the catalytic performance of the Fe-based
nanocomposite catalysts in the low-temperature oxidation of CO.
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