Why are iron and cobalt commonly used as catalysts?
Iron Catalysts are preferred for coal and biomass-based syngas due to their ability to handle higher CO concentrations and their relative cost-effectiveness. Iron catalysts also promote the formation of olefins and oxygenates, which can be valuable in chemical synthesis. Cobalt Catalysts are more suitable for natural gas-based syngas because they are more resistant to deactivation and produce higher yields of paraffinic hydrocarbons, which are desirable for fuel production. Cobalt catalysts are also more active at lower temperatures, which can enhance the selectivity towards long-chain hydrocarbons.
