The nature of the potassium compound acting as a promoter in iron-alumina catalysts for ammonia synthesis

Ommen van, J.G. and Bolink, W.J. and Prasad, J. and Mars, P. (1975) The nature of the potassium compound acting as a promoter in iron-alumina catalysts for ammonia synthesis. Journal of Catalysis, 38 (1-3). pp. 120-127. ISSN 0021-9517

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Abstract:	The chemical form of the potassium promoter on an iron-alumina catalyst during ammonia synthesis has been studied by two methods, viz, (i) the measurement of the equilibrium constant of the process KNH2 + H2 KH + NH3, and (ii) chemical analysis of the used catalyst. The equilibrium constant measurements gave K723 = (12.9 ± 0.5) × 10−3, ΔHf2980(KNH2) = −119 ± 3 kJ mol−1 and S2980(KNH2) = 109 ± 4 J mol−1 K−1. The chemical analysis showed that no KNH2 is present on the catalyst during synthesis. From these results and with the aid of thermodynamic considerations it is concluded that KNH2, K and K2O are not stable compounds under conditions of ammonia synthesis. X-Ray diffraction showed that part of the potassium reacts with Al2O3, probably leaving part of the potassium in the form of KOH which is quite stable under ammonia synthesis conditions.
Item Type:	Article
Copyright:	© 1975 Elsevier Science
Research Group:	Catalytic Processes and Materials (CPM)
Link to this item:	http://purl.utwente.nl/publications/68334
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0021-9517(75)90069-X
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