Cobalt-based Fischer�Tropsch (FT) catalysts may be subject to metal leaching by carboxylic acids produced during FT synthesis. Despite the industrial significance of FT, not much has been reported on the thermal stability of cobalt carboxylates (metal leaching products) and hence the motivation for this work. C1-C5 cobalt carboxylates were synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that the decomposition temperatures of the cobalt carboxylates (>250 �C) were higher than the operating temperature for a typical cobalt-based low-temperature FT process (~220 �C). Failure of cobalt carboxylates to decompose during FT synthesis can adversely effect downstream processes, as is indeed found in practice.

Cobalt carboxylate stability and the implications for Fischer–Tropsch catalysis and syncrude refining

243rd National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.