Cobalt molybdate and cobalt molybdate-potassium catalysts were found to exhibit activity for alcohol formation from Cod H-2 at 3.0 MPa and 250 degrees C and 300 degrees C. Tetrahedrally coordinated Mo6+ ions favor the selectivity to alcohols. Addition of K2CO3 greatly enhances the selectivity of the reaction to methanol. The extent of this effect was dependent on the way the alkali metal was mixed with the catalyst. Catalysts obtained by mechanical mixing of alpha-CoMoO4 and K2CO3 deactivate faster than the beta-CoMoO4/K mixture calcined at 550 degrees C, where formation of a K2MoO4 phase was detected by XRD. Both catalysts show a similar maximum in selectivity to alcohols at around 90 min of reaction. Addition of potassium by coprecipitation along with Co and Mo, which leads to the formation of K2CO2(MoO4)(3), also enhances alcohol production, but the effect is more attenuated than for the other promoted samples.