Cover Feature: In Situ Diffraction of Fischer–Tropsch Catalysts: Cobalt Reduction and Carbide Formation (ChemCatChem 18/2017)

Abstract

The Cover shows the transition of face centered cubic to hexagonal packed cobalt via the carbide intermediate on a catalyst support. Control of the cobalt structure is vital for Fischer–Tropsch chemistry, which is a highly significant reaction in industry for the gas to liquids fuels process.In their Full Paper, J. Paterson et al. demonstrate the transition to the more active hexagonal phase using in situ X-ray diffraction and present the catalysis results supporting it. Moreover, the effect of CO is studied, showing the effect of partial pressures between 0 and 10 bar, the facile removal under hydrogen and the ability of CO to complete the full reduction of the cobalt oxide precursor. Future catalyst and process designs may benefit from these mechanistic insights, leading to improved performance, greater activity and enhanced selectivity. More information can be found in the Full Paper by J. Paterson et al. on page 3463 in Issue 18, 2017 (DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201700754).