Effect of pH on catalyst activity and selectivity in the aqueous Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalyzed by cobalt nanoparticles

•Cobalt nanoparticles of 2.6 nm were synthesized in water using NaBH4 and PVP as stabilizer.•The CoNPs exhibited an amorphous structure.•The pH affects both the activity and selectivity of the aqueous FTS.•At basic pH side reactions such as WGS and formation of formate are favored.

Cobalt nanoparticles of 2.6 nm were synthesized in water using NaBH4 as the reducing agent and PVP as stabilizer. The nanoparticles were fully characterized and their catalytic performances evaluated in the aqueous phase Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (AFTS) at various pH values. The pH of the catalytic solution was shown to affect both the activity and selectivity of the AFTS reaction since side reactions such as WGS and formation of formate from CO2 were favored at basic pH.

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