Abstract: Supercritical CO2 Iron Impregnation of MCM-41 (2009 Annual Meeting)

Monday, November 9, 2009

Ryman Hall B1/B2 (Gaylord Opryland Hotel)

Lauren A. Pulley, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Bridget R. Rogers, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Kenneth A. Debelak, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Robert D. Geil, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Benjamin W. Schmidt, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Robert R. Harl, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

The Fischer Tropsch Synthesis is a reaction that converts synthesis gas comprised of carbon monoxide and hydrogen to hydrocarbons in the presence of a catalyst. The purpose of this project is to create a metallic catalyst in a support that will help produce long chain hydrocarbons for synthetic petroleum.

For these studies, a carbon framework was produced inside of MCM-41 using a sucrose solution. The MCM-41 with carbon framework was impregnated with iron nitrate using super critical carbon dioxide (scCO2). The iron was reduced to a metallic state using hydrogen gas. The catalyst activity is currently being studied using Fischer Tropsch Synthesis.