Nanostructured hybrid iron-zeolite catalysts

A hybrid iron nanoparticle catalyst prepared according to a method comprising:

• i) mixing an iron salt with an aqueous surfactant comprising a bromide anion to form a mixture;
• ii) adding a basic salt solution comprising a salt of alkali metals to the mixture of step (i) to form a precipitate;
• iii) heating the precipitate of step (ii) in the presence of air and oxygen;
• and
• iv) mixing the precipitate of step (iii) with an aluminosilicate or a silicoaluminophosphate zeolite to yield a hybrid iron catalyst,
• wherein the catalyst comprises:
• i) 30 wt. % to 70 wt. % of nanoparticles in oxide form comprising iron, alkali metals, and bromate;
• and
• ii) 70 wt. % to 30 wt. % of an aluminosilicate zeolite or silicoaluminophosphate zeolite, based on a total weight of the catalyst,
• wherein said nanoparticles have a diameter of 2 nm to 50 nm, and a total wt. % of the nanoparticles and zeolite is 100 wt. %.