The surface species of CO hydrogenation on CeO_2-Co/SiO_2 catalyst were investigated using the techniques of temperature programmed reaction and transient response method.The results indicated that the formation of H_2O and CO_2 was the competitive reaction for the surface oxygen species,CH_4 was produced via the hydrogenation of carbon species step by step,and C_2 products were formed by the polymerization of surface-active carbon species(-CH_2-).Hydrogen assisted the dissociation of CO.The hydrogenation of surface carbon species was the rate-limiting step in the hydrogenation of CO over CeO_2-Co/SiO_2 catalyst.The investigation of total pressure,gas hourly space velocity(GHSV),and product distribution using nitrogen-rich synthesis gas as feedstock over a laboratory scale fixed-bed reactor indicated that total pressure and GHSV had a significant effect on the catalytic performance of CeO_2-Co/SiO_2 catalyst.The removal of heat and control of the reaction temperature were extremely critical steps,which required lower GHSV and appropriate CO conversion to avoid the deactivation of the catalyst.The feedstock of nitrogen-rich synthesis gas was favorable to increase the conversion of CO,but there was a shift of product distribution toward the light hydrocarbon.The nitrogen-rich synthesis gas was feasible for F-T synthesis for the utilization of remote natural gas. The surface species of CO hydrogenation on CeO_2-Co / SiO_2 catalyst were investigated using the techniques of temperature programmed reaction and transient response method. These results indicated that the formation of H_2O and CO_2 was the competitive reaction for the surface oxygen species, CH_4 was produced via the hydrogenation of carbon species step by step, and C_2 products were formed by the polymerization of surface-active carbon species (-CH 2 -). Hydrogen assisted the dissociation of CO. hydrogenation of surface carbon species was the rate-limiting step in the hydrogenation of CO over CeO 2 -Co / SiO 2 catalyst. The investigation of total pressure, gas hourly space velocity (GHSV), and product distribution using nitrogen-rich synthesis gas as feedstock over a laboratory scale fixed-bed reactor indicated that total pressure and GHSV had a significant effect on the catalytic performance of CeO_2-Co / SiO_2 catalyst. Removal of heat and control of the reaction temperature were extremely cri tical steps, which require lower GHSV and appropriate CO conversion to avoid the deactivation of the catalyst. The feedstock of nitrogen-rich synthesis gas was favorable to increase the conversion of CO, but there was a shift of product distribution toward the light hydrocarbon. nitrogen-rich synthesis gas was feasible for FT synthesis for the utilization of remote natural gas.