Role of CO in the Water-Induced Formation of Cobalt Oxide in a High Conversion Fischer–Tropsch Environment

A Co/C model catalyst was exposed to increasing partial pressures of water simulating high Fischer–Tropsch conversions at varying concentrations of synthesis gas. The stability of the metallic cobalt phase against oxidation and sintering under such conditions was monitored in an in situ magnetometer. Direct oxidation of cobalt to cobalt oxide with water-derived oxygen through a water splitting mechanism was shown to be kinetically hindered, even...