PREPARATION, REDUCTION, AND CO CHEMISORPTION PROPERTIES OF A CYANIDE-DERIVED FE AL2O3 CATALYST/

A supported iron catalyst is prepared by precipitation of an iron hexa cyanoferrate complex onto gamma-alumina. Removal of the cyanide ligand s by oxidation at 563 K results in the formation of highly dispersed i ron(III) oxide particles. The reduction of the oxidic precursor procee ds via a support stabilised Fe1-xO phase as revealed by in situ magnet ization measurements and Mossbauer spectroscopy. Upon exposure of the reduced and subsequently evacuated catalyst to carbon monoxide at room temperature, both linearly and bridged-bonded carbon monoxide species are observed by infrared spectroscopy at wavenumbers of 1985 cm(-1) a nd 1980-1700 cm(-1), respectively. A fraction of the carbon monoxide r eacts with irreversibly chemisorbed hydrogen to formate and small hydr ocarbons, which remain bonded on the surface of the iron particles.