Preparation of γ-Fe2O3 support and evaluation of catalytic activty of Ru-K/Fe2O3 catalyst for ammonia synthesis

A novel nanometer iron oxide support was successfully synthesized by the sol-gel method. The results of X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and N-2 physical adsorption show that the prepared Fe2O3 particles have a typical mesoporous structure with pore diameters of 18.8-25.0 nm. The effect of the crystal phase composition of Fe2O3 on catalytic activity of the Ru-K/gamma-Fe2O3 catalyst was further investigated under the conditions of 475 degrees C, 10 MPa, 10000 h(-1), and V(H-2)/ V(N-2) = 3. The higher the content of gamma-Fe2O3 in the support, the better the catalytic activity of the catalyst.