Hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide were produced from carbon dioxide and
hydrogen at 400 degrees C over copper-promoted iron catalysts contain
ing sodium. The major surface phases of the catalysts were FeO and/or
FeCO3 although iron carbide is believed as an active phase of the hydr
ocarbon synthesis from carbon monoxide. Copper was present as metal on
the surface and the surface density was considerably high even if the
content of copper was less than 1 wt%. The surface density of sodium
was not negligible in the catalysts containing sodium less than 0.1 wt
% and the sodium ion can affect the surface basicity of the catalysts.
The olefin content in the products is believed to relate to the surfa
ce basicity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.