CATALYSTS

摘要

A method of manufacturing a cobalt catalyst is described, which comprises the steps of forming an aqueous solution of a cobalt amine complex, oxidising said solution such that the concentration of Co(I11) in the oxidised solution is greater than the concentration of Co(III) in the un- oxidized solution, and then decomposing the cobalt amine complex by heating the solution to a temperature between 80 and 110 °C for sufficient time to allow an insoluble cobalt compound to precipitate out of the solution. A catalyst intermediate is also described which comprises a cobalt compound, comprising a Co(II)/Co(III) hydrotalcite phase and a Co3O4 cobalt spine) phase, wherein the ratio of cobalt hydrotalcite phase : cobalt spine) phase is less than 0.6:1, said cobalt hydrotalcite phase and said cobalt spine) phase being measured by X-ray diffractometry.