Characterization of the Genesis of Cobalt Metal Particles in Silica-Supported Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts using Foner Magnetic Method

International audienceThe genesis of cobalt metal particles in silica-supported Fischer-Tropsch catalysts was studied using in situ Foner vibrating-sample magnetic method. The cobalt promoted and unpromoted catalysts were prepared by aqueous (co)-impregnation using cobalt nitrate or acetate, ruthenium nitrosyl nitrate or perrhenic acid followed by oxidative pre-treatment in air and reduction in hydrogen. In several catalyst preparations, sucrose was added to the impregnating solutions. The genesis of cobalt metal phases in these catalysts was monitored in situ by the magnetic method during the temperature-programmed reduction in pure hydrogen. A considerably higher extent of cobalt reduction was found in the catalysts prepared from cobalt nitrate than in those prepared from cobalt acetate. Promotion with ruthenium and rhenium results in a considerable decrease in the temperature of the emergence of cobalt metal phases. Small superparamagnetic, single-domain and multi-domain ferromagnetic cobalt metal particles were observed in the reduced catalysts by the magnetic method. It was found that lower temperature calcination of the cobalt catalysts prepared from cobalt nitrate and addition of sucrose to the impregnating solution lead to a decrease in the concentration of multi-domain cobalt ferromagnetic metal particles and to an increase in the fraction of superparamagnetic cobalt particles. Superparamagnetic cobalt particles smaller than 6-7 nm were detected in the reduced catalysts prepared from cobalt nitrate with sucrose addition and in the catalysts prepared from cobalt acetate. Catalyst characterization using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has confirmed the results about cobalt dispersion and reducibility in the cobalt silica-supported catalysts obtained by the Foner magnetic method

Factors associated with COVID-19-related death in people with rheumatic diseases: results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance physician-reported registry

Objectives: To determine factors associated with COVID-19-related death in people with rheumatic diseases. Methods: Physician-reported registry of adults with rheumatic disease and confirmed or presumptive COVID-19 (from 24 March to 1 July 2020). The primary outcome was COVID-19-related death. Age, sex, smoking status, comorbidities, rheumatic disease diagnosis, disease activity and medications were included as covariates in multivariable logistic regression models. Analyses were further stratified according to rheumatic disease category. Results: Of 3729 patients (mean age 57 years, 68% female), 390 (10.5%) died. Independent factors associated with COVID-19-related death were age (66-75 years: OR 3.00, 95% CI 2.13 to 4.22; >75 years: 6.18, 4.47 to 8.53; both vs ≤65 years), male sex (1.46, 1.11 to 1.91), hypertension combined with cardiovascular disease (1.89, 1.31 to 2.73), chronic lung disease (1.68, 1.26 to 2.25) and prednisolone-equivalent dosage >10 mg/day (1.69, 1.18 to 2.41; vs no glucocorticoid intake). Moderate/high disease activity (vs remission/low disease activity) was associated with higher odds of death (1.87, 1.27 to 2.77). Rituximab (4.04, 2.32 to 7.03), sulfasalazine (3.60, 1.66 to 7.78), immunosuppressants (azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, ciclosporin, mycophenolate or tacrolimus: 2.22, 1.43 to 3.46) and not receiving any disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) (2.11, 1.48 to 3.01) were associated with higher odds of death, compared with methotrexate monotherapy. Other synthetic/biological DMARDs were not associated with COVID-19-related death. Conclusion: Among people with rheumatic disease, COVID-19-related death was associated with known general factors (older age, male sex and specific comorbidities) and disease-specific factors (disease activity and specific medications). The association with moderate/high disease activity highlights the importance of adequate disease control with DMARDs, preferably without increasing glucocorticoid dosages. Caution may be required with rituximab, sulfasalazine and some immunosuppressants