Effects of alkaline-earth metals on the structure, adsorption and catalytic behavior of iron-based Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalysts

•Effects of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba on the FTS performance of Fe/SiO2 catalysts were studied.•Alkaline-earth metals strengthened FeO bonds of α-Fe2O3 in fresh catalysts.•Alkaline-earth metals decreased H2 adsorption but improved the adsorption of CO.•Alkaline-earth metals shifted the FTS product distribution to heavy hydrocarbons.•The selectivity of olefin gradually increased with increasing the atomic number of alkaline-earth metal. Effects of alkaline-earth metals (magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium) on the physico-chemical properties and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) performances of precipitated Fe/SiO2 catalysts were investigated by N2 physisorption, laser Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, in situ X-ray diffraction, Mössbauer effect spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction or desorption and fixed-bed reactions. The characterization results indicated that alkaline-earth metals strengthened FeO bonds of Fe2O3 in as-prepared catalysts, which consequently inhibited the reduction of catalysts under H2 atmosphere. Mg and Ca suppress the carbonization of catalysts while Sr and Ba enhance the carbonization. The H2 adsorption was suppressed while the CO adsorption was enhanced by alkaline-earth metals. In the FTS reaction, alkaline-earth metals had no apparent influence on the CO conversion of catalysts, whereas they suppressed the formation of methane and enhanced the selectivities to olefin and higher molecular weight products. Among these alkaline-earth metals, Sr has the most pronounced influence on inhibiting the light hydrocarbon production. Furthermore, the increased Sr content can further restrain the formation of light hydrocarbons.