10.57647/ijc.2026.1601.03

Evaluation of Fe-Cu catalysts supported on magnesium oxide in methane combustion reaction

PDF
  • Abdullah Irankhah*1,
  • Zahra Hossein Mirzaei1,
  • Atieh Ranjbar2,
  1. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Tafresh University, Tafresh 39518 79611, Iran

Received: 2025-09-06

Revised: 2025-09-25

Accepted: 2025-10-24

Published in Issue 2026-03-31

Published Online: 2025-11-25

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Irankhah, A., Hossein Mirzaei, Z., & Ranjbar, A. (2026). Evaluation of Fe-Cu catalysts supported on magnesium oxide in methane combustion reaction. Iranian Journal of Catalysis, 16(1 (March 2026). https://doi.org/10.57647/ijc.2026.1601.03
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

PDF views: 87

Abstract

The catalytic performance of xFe/MgO (x=10, 15, 20 wt.%) and Cu-promoted 15Fe-yCu/MgO (y=3, 5 wt.%) catalysts, fabricated via impregnation techniques on a precipitation-derived MgO support, was investigated for methane combustion. Maximum activity was observed for the 20Fe/MgO formulation, exhibiting light-off temperatures T₁₀ and T₅₀ of 412°C and 463°C, respectively. This superior activity is correlated with its physicochemical properties, namely a high specific surface area (49.70 m²·g⁻¹), small crystallite size (22 nm), and presence of abundant Fe active sites on the surface of MgO or within Mg₁₋ₓFeₓO solid solution. In contrast, Cu promotion detrimentally affected performance, an effect ascribed to the blockage or fundamental alteration of the active sites and agglomeration of particles. The 20Fe/MgO catalyst further demonstrated notable operational stability, maintaining >80% CH₄ conversion during a 25-hour time-on-stream analysis at 550°C. XRD characterization of the spent catalyst indicated progression of solid solution formation following the reaction.

Keywords

  • Methane combustion, Fe-Cu catalysts, MgO, Precipitation, Solid solution
PDF

References

  1. M. Filonchyk, M. P. Peterson, L. Zhang, V. Hurynovich, Y. He, Sci. Total Environ. 935 (2024). 173359. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173359.
  2. X. Zhang, X. Zhang, L. Ren, M. Han, N. Feng, H. Wan, G. Guan, Fuel 379 (2025) 133090. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2024.133090.
  3. T. V. Choudhary, S. Banerjee, V. R. Choudhary, Appl. Catal., A 234 (2002) 1-23. doi: 10.1016/S0926-860X(02)00231-4.
  4. X. Feng, L. Jiang, D. Li, S. Tian, X. Zhu, H. Wang, ... K.Li, J. Energy Chem. 75 (2022) 173-215. doi:10.1016/j.jechem.2022.08.001.
  5. J. Chen, H. Arandiyan, X. Gao, J. Li, Catal. Surv. Asia 19 (2015) 140-71. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.109589.
  6. Z. Tang, T. Zhang, D. Luo, Y. Wang, Z. Hu, R. T. Yang, ACS Catal. 12 (2022) 13457-74. doi:10.1021/acscatal.2c01012.
  7. R. Abbasi, L. Wu, S. E. Wanke, R. E. Hayes, Chem. Eng. Res. Des. 90(2012)1930-1942. doi: 10.1016/j.cherd.2012.03.003.
  8. R. S. Kumar, J. P. Mmbaga, N. Semagina, R. E. Hayes, Catal. 14 (2024) 319-44. doi.org/10.3390/catal14050319.
  9. R. Burch, P. K. Loader, Appl. Catal., B 5 (1994) 149-64. doi:10.1016/0926-3373(94)00037-9.
  10. C. Zhang, X. Chen, X. Zhang, S. Chen, S. Gao, D. Yu, Z. Zhao, J. Mater. Chem. 13(2025)8024-34. doi:/10.1039/d5ta00639b .
  11. K. Narui, K. Furuta, H. Yata, A. Nishida, Y. Kohtoku, T. Matsuzaki, Catal. Today. 45 (1998)173-78. doi:10.1016/S0920-5861(98)00274-0.
  12. D. Gao, C. Zhang, S. Wang, Z. Yuan, S. Wang, Catal. Commun. 9 (2008) 2583-87. doi:0.1016/j.catcom.2008.07.014.
  13. T. S. Cam, T. A. Vishnevskaia, V. I. Popkov, Rev. Adv. Mater. Sci. 59 (2020) 131-43. doi:10.1515/rams-2020-0002.
  14. X. Wei, J. Kang, L. Gan, W. Wang, L. Yang, D. Wang, J. Qi, Nanomaterials 13 (2023) 1917-49. doi:10.3390/nano13131917.
  15. A. Setiawan, E. M. Kennedy, B. Z. Dlugogorski, A. A. Adesina, et al. Catal. Today 258 (2015) 276-283. doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2014.11.031.
  16. E. Akbari, S. M. Alavi, M. Rezaei, A. Larimi, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 47 (2022)13004-21. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.02.070.
  17. M. M. Fiuk, A. Adamski, Catal. Today 257(2015) 131-35. doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2015.01.029.
  18. S. Cimino, S. Colonna, S. De Rossi, M. Faticanti, L. Lisi, I. Pettiti, P. Porta, J. Catal. 205 (2002) 309-17. doi:10.1006/jcat.2001.3441.
  19. S. Wang, Y. Zhang, S. Zhao, Y. Zhang, Y. Wang, Y. Zhang, S. Qiao, Mol. Catal. 531, (2022) 112685. doi:10.1016/j.mcat.2022.112685.
  20. J. Xu, Z. Tian, Y. Xu, Z. Xu, L. Lin, Stud. Surf. Sci. Catal. 147 (2004) 481-486. doi:10.1016/S0167-2991(04)80098-3.
  21. S. Trivedi, R. Prasad, J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 4 (2016)1017-28. doi: 10.1016/j.jece.2016.01.002.
  22. S. Jayasree, A. Manikandan, A. M. Mohideen, C. Barathiraja, S. A. Antony, Adv. Sci., Eng. Med. 7(8) (2015)672-82. doi:10.1166/asem.2015.1750.
  23. S. F. Ji, T. C. Xiao, H. T. Wang, E. Flahaut, K. S.Coleman, M. L. Green, Catal. Lett. 75 (2001) 65-71. doi: 10.1023/A:1016711207912.
  24. M. A. Ulla, R. Spretz, E. Lombardo, W. Daniell, H. Knözinger, Appl. Catal., B 29 (2001) 217-29. doi:10.1016/S0926-3373(00)00204-6.
  25. E. E. Svensson, S. Nassos, M. Boutonnet, S. G. Järås, Catal. Today 117 (2006)484-90. doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2006.06.014 .
  26. J. Li, Y. Zhang, W. Shan, H. He, Fuel 340 (2023)127493. doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2023.127493.
  27. G. Zhao, X. Pan, Z. Zhang, Y. Liu, Y. Lu, J. Catal. 384 (2020) 122-35. doi:10.1016/j.jcat.2020.01.013.
  28. Y. Li, Y. Guo, B. Xue, Fuel Process. Technol. 90(2009)652-56. doi:10.1016/j.fuproc.2008.12.002.
  29. G. Saracco, G. Scibilia, A. Iannibello, G. Baldi, Appl. Catal., B 8(1996) 229-44. doi:10.1016/0926-3373(95)00084-4 .
  30. R. Ding, C. Li, L. Wang, R. Hu, Appl. Catal., A 464(2013)261-68. doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2013.05.041 .
  31. J. R. Paredes, S. Ordóñez, A. Vega, F. V. Dıez, Appl. Catal., B 47 (2004) 37–45. doi:10.1016/s0926-3373(03)00325-4 .
  32. B. Dong, H. Zhang, A. Kong, Y. Kong, F. Yang, Y. Shan, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 28(2014)4779–87. doi:10.1002/ejic.201402152 .
  33. Y. Wang, Y. Wang, Z. Liu, Y. Li, L. Yao, S. Shao, X. Fan, et al. Appl. Surf. Sci. 682 (2025) 161691. doi:10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.161691 .
  34. X. Ge, M. Li, J. Shen, J. Solid State Chem. 16 (2001)38-44. doi:10.1006/jssc.2001.9264 .
  35. K. S. Sing, R. T. Williams, Adsorpt. Sci. Technol. 22 (2004)773-82. doi:10.1260/0263617053499032 .
  36. P. I. Ravikovitch, A. V. Neimark, Colloids Surf., A 187(2001)11-21. doi:10.1016/s0927-7757(01)00614-8 .
  37. L. He, Y. Fan, J. Bellettre, J. Yue, L. Luo, Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 119(2020)109589. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.109589 .
  38. Q. Zhang, Y. Li, D. An, Y. Wang, Appl. Catal., A 356(2009)103-111. doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2008.12.031 .
  39. M. Boudart, A. Delbouille, J. A. Dumesic, S. Khammouma, H. Topsøe, J. Catal. 37(3) (1975) 486-502. doi:10.1016/0021-9517(75)90184-0 .
  40. J. A. Dumesic, H. Topsøe, S. Khammouma, M. Boudart, J. Catal. 37 (1975)503-12. doi:10.1016/0021-9517(75)90185-2 .
  41. H. Geng, Z. Yang, L. Zhang, J. Ran, Y. Yan, M. Guo, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 41 (2016)18282-90. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.08.134
  42. L. F. Yang, C. K. Shi, X. E. He, J. X. Cai, Appl. Catal., B 38(2002)117-25. doi:10.1016/s0926-3373(02)00034-6 .
  43. F. Papa, C. Negrila, G. Dobrescu, A. Miyazaki, I. Balint, J. Nat. Gas Chem. 20(2011) 537-42. doi:10.1016/s1003-9953(10)60221-6 .
  44. A. Shafaei, and A. Irankhah, Mol. Catal. 538(2023)112989. doi:10.1016/j.mcat.2023.112989 .
  45. G. Águila, F. Gracia, J. Cortés, P. Araya, Appl. Catal., B 77 (2008)325-38. doi:10.1016/j.apcatb.2007.08.002 .
  46. W. Yang, D. Li, D. Xu, X. Wang, J. Nat. Gas Chem. 18(2009)458-66. doi:10.1016/s1003-9953(08)60141-3 .
  47. I. Popescu, N. Tanchoux, D.Tichit, I. C. Marcu, Appl. Catal., A 538(2017)81-90. doi:10.1016/j.apcata.2017.03.012 .
  48. F.J.A. Al-Doghachi, Bull. Chem. React. Eng. Catal. 13(2018)295-310. doi:10.9767/bcrec.13.2.1656.295-310 .
  49. R. Spretz, S. G. Marchetti, M. A. Ulla, E. A. Lombardo, J. Catal. 194 (2000) 167-174. doi:10.1006/jcat.2000.2921 .
  50. J. Cheng, J. Yu, X. Wang, L. Li, J. Li, Z., Hao, Energy Fuels, 22(2008)2131-2137. doi.org/10.1021/ef8000168
  51. Y. Cao, F. Liu, C. Song, L. Yang, C. Zhai, Chem. Eng. J. 480(2024) 148285. doi:10.1016/j.cej.2023.148285
  52. S. Tanaka, K. Nakagawa, E. Kanezaki, M. Katoh, K.I. Murai, T. Moriga, et al. J. Jpn. Petrol. Inst. 48 (2005) 223-8. doi:10.1627/jpi.48.223 .
  53. G. Pecchi, P. Reyes, T. Lopez, R. Gomez, A. Moreno,et al. J. Sol-Gel Sci. Technol. 27(2003 )205-14. doi:10.1023/a:1023758819596 .