Iron oxides and their applications in catalytic processes: A review [óxidos de ferro e suas aplica??es em processos catalíticos: Uma revis?o]

摘要

A review of most of the reported studies on the use of iron oxides as catalyst in specific processes, namely Haber-Bosch reaction, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, Fenton oxidation and photolytic molecular splitting of water to produce gaseous hydrogen, was carried out. An essential overview is thus presented, intending to address the fundamental meaning, as well as the corresponding chemical mechanisms, and perspectives on new technological potentialities of natural and synthetic iron oxides, more specifically hematite (α-Fe_2O_3), goethite (α-FeOOH), magnetite (Fe_3O_4) and maghemite (γ,-Fe_2O _3) in heterogeneous catalysis.