ABSTRACT
Heterogeneous Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis and homogeneous hydroformylation with cobalt catalysts are investigated for common principles. Selectivity and mechanism of FT synthesis are evaluated and compared with hydroformylation. For FT on cobalt, the concepts of self-organization of the kinetic regime and catalyst surface segregation to attain a thermodynamically controlled state with different sites (on-top sites for chain growth, in-pit sites for CH2 monomer formation from CO, and on-plane sites for methanation and olefin reactions) are presented. It is shown how the regime of FT synthesis shifts toward the regime of hydroformylation.
