Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis: Investigation of the Partitioning of Dissociated H2 and D2 on Activated Cobalt Catalysts

To define the mechanism of the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, numerous experiments probed the rate-determining step by performing isotopic experiments during CO hydrogenation. The aim of this work was to determine if there is an isotopic effect for adsorption for either hydrogen or deuterium on the cobalt metal surface of a Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalyst. If a partitioning effect is noticed, there is a possibility for this to interfere with measurements of the inverse kinetic isotopic effect during CO hydrogenation. In this investigation, the partitioning of hydrogen and deuterium on an activated cobalt catalyst was examined using temperature programmed desorption and gas chromatography. The results indicate that there may be hydrogen–deuterium exchange with the support, but there is no significant isotopic partitioning on the cobalt metal surface.