Surface properties of the Co/Al 2O 3 catalyst have been studied under fresh reduction and carbon-deposition conditions using Infrared Spectroscopy(IR) and Temperature-Programmed Desorption(TPD). The Co/Al 2O 3 catalyst is difficult to reduce completely showing evidence of partial reduction even after H 2 reduction at 525(C for 21 hours. The catalyst surface is also relatively complex ana it shows many bands in the TPD chromatogram of surface-adsorbed CO. When carbon is deposited on the catalyst by CO disproportionation at 250(C, the catalyst surface is markedly modified showing a new IR band of adsorbed CO at 2073 cm -1. The surface carbon is chemically active enough to combine with oxygen from the catalyst to produce gaseous CO at temperatures above 300(C.