Mapping metal catalysts using synchrotron computed microtomography (CMT) and micro-X-ray fluorescence (μXRF)

Gas-to-liquids (GTL) is a viable pathway to synthesize clean fuels from natural gas. Heterogeneous catalyst assemblies are typically utilized in the GTL conversion reactions but an in-depth characterization of catalytic materials is needed to design the next-generation more efficient catalysts. Computed microtomography (CMT) and micro-X-ray fluorescence (μXRF) techniques at the National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, are complementary methods that allow mapping of catalyst constituents. The potential of using these techniques for monitoring changes in the catalyst composition during Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis are presented. Both μXRF and CMT are versatile complementary techniques for mapping spatial changes in the elemental distributions of the catalyst constituents before and during the F-T reaction that may affect catalytic activity.