Regulation of hydrogenation products of fatty acids by tuning the acidity of cobalt catalysts

Abstract

Co₃O₄ was prepared as a precursor for Co catalysts for hydrodeoxygenation of n-octanoic acid, with four precipitants applied to modulate the surface acidity distribution. It was observed that medium acidity facilitated esterification, medium–strong acidity promoted partial hydrogenation to alcohols, and strong acidity produced alkanes with one carbon loss.