Hydrogenation of carbon monoxide on carbon-supported cobalt rare earth catalysts

Abstract

A study of carbon monoxide hydrogenation over cobalt—lanthanum and cobalt—cerium catalysts supported on carbon was carried out for the purpose of identifying the effects of rare earth elements. It was observed that these promoters give rise to a 100-fold increase in specific activity and turnover frequency, which is not a result of the inhibition of carbon monoxide or hydrogen adsorption. Moreover, the selectivity for the C 2 C 4 fraction increased from 4% to about 40% and this fraction is essentially olefinic. Such variations in catalytic properties, especially activity, are a strong indication of the formation of new sites. In comparison with the results of recent work, one may conclude that carbon monoxide and hydrogen hydrocondensation needs redox centres that could easily be formed with metal-rare earth catalysts.