Water-gas-shift kinetic over nano-structured iron catalyst in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

Kinetic modeling of the water-gas-shift (WGS) reaction over a nano-structured iron catalyst under Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction conditions is investigated. The Fe/Cu/La/Si nano-structured catalyst was prepared by co-precipitation in a water-in-oil microemulsion. A number of Langmuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson type rate equations based on possible reactions sets originated from the formate and direct oxidation mechanisms, are derived. By considering experimental data measured over a wide range of reaction conditions, discrimination between the various rate equations is investigated during this study. WGS rate expressions based on the formate mechanism were found to provide an improved description of the WGS kinetic data.