Effects of nanoscale iron oxide particles on textural structure, reduction, carburization and catalytic behavior of precipitated iron catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) are investigated. Nanostructured iron catalysts were prepared by microemulsion method in two series. Firstly, Fe2O3, CuO and La2O3 nanoparticles were prepared separately and were mixed to attain e/Cu/La nanostructured catalyst (sep-nano catalyst); Secondly nanostructured catalyst was prepared by co-precipitation in a water-in-oil microemulsion method (mix-nano catalyst). Also, conventional iron catalyst was prepared with common co-precipitation method. Structural characterizations of the catalysts were performed by TEM, XRD, H2 and CO-TPR tests. Particle size of iron oxides for sep-nano and mix-nano catalysts, which were determined by XRD pattern (Scherrer equation) and TEM images was about 20 and 21.6 nm, respectively. Catalyst evaluation was conducted in a fixed-bed stainless steel reactor and compared with conventional iron catalyst. The results revealed that FTS reaction increased while WGS reaction and olefin/paraffin ratio decreased in nanostructured iron catalysts

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