Cobalt (II) Acetate Tetrahydrate

Cobalt (II) Acetate Tetrahydrate is a dark red crystalline material, and a deep pink powder in its anhydrous form. This material is also known as Cobaltous Acetate. Like other acetate salts, it is soluble in water, making it a valuable Cobalt precursor.  It also decomposes to Cobalt (II) Oxide (CoO) above the relatively low temperature of 310° Celsius.  Thus, it is used in the production of cobalt-based materials such as pigments, catalysts, and electroplating.

Cobalt (II) acetate tetrahydrate, being water-soluble, is used to impregnate silica for catalytic materials, as demonstrated by researchers from the National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research in Japan. They enhanced catalytic activity by adding noble metal precursors and modifying the material with alkali and alkaline earth cations. This material successfully catalyzed reactions like carbon monoxide hydrogenation and ethene hydroformylation.

Cobaltous Acetate is also used to produce pigments, such as Cobalt Aluminum Oxide (Co2AlO4 and CoAl2O4), with a freeze-drying method and calcination at varying temperatures. Additionally, it is used in electroplating, as shown by researchers from Banaras Hindu University, who created smooth, fine-grained, and adherent Cobalt deposits using a mixture of Cobalt Acetate and other chemicals.

1. Matsuzaki, T., Takeuchi, K., Hanaoka, T., Arakawa, H., & Sugi, Y. (1996). Hydrogenation of carbon monoxide over highly dispersed cobalt catalysts derived from cobalt(II) acetate. Catalysis Today, 28(3), 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/0920-5861(95)00245-6
2. Grimes, R. W., & Fitch, A. N. (1991). Thermal decomposition of cobalt(II) acetate tetrahydrate studied with time-resolved neutron diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Journal of Materials Chemistry, 1(3), 461–468. https://doi.org/10.1039/JM9910100461
3. Xi, X., Nie, Z., Ma, L., Li, L., Xu, X., & Zuo, T. (2012). Synthesis and characterization of ultrafine Co2AlO4 pigment by freeze–drying. Powder Technology, 226, 114–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.POWTEC.2012.04.029
4. Singh, V. B., & Tikoo, P. K. (1977). Electrodeposition of ternary nickel—iron—cobalt alloys from acetate bath. Electrochimica Acta, 22(10), 1201–1204. https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-4686(77)80062-5