PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF UNSUPPORTED COBALT OXIDE CATALYSTS.

A study has been conducted with the objective to develop a method for preparing unsupported Co//3O//4 catalysts with a high surface area, and to characterize the resulting product as fully as possible. The highest surface areas ( similar 150 m**2/g) were obtained by decomposing a basic carbonate prepared by adding sodium carbonate to a cobaltous acetate solution. Flame emission spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the structure and surface topography of the catalyst, and its surface area was determined by BET measurements. In addition, a standard test involving the conversion of CO to CO//2 over the Co//3O//4 catalyst was used to confirm the latter's catalytic activity.