Cobalt oxide absorbs oxygen as the high-temperature rock-salt CoO structure is transformed into the lower-temperature cubic Co3O4 spinel. The absorption and desorption processes are reversible, which makes the material a potential candidate for use in temperature and/or pressure swing absorption modes for the production of oxygen. TGA/DTA experiments were conducted to quantify, the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reaction. Over the temperature range investigated, both absorption and desorption were highly dependent on the thermodynamic driving force with faster kinetics occurring as Delta G became more negative. The reaction kinetics were primarily controlled by heat transfer and the thermodynamic driving force. Kinetic data suggest that cobalt oxide of 1-5 mu m particle size can be oxidized or reduced at temperatures 40 degrees above or below 890 degrees C in air, in less than 10 min at a bed thickness of 10 mm. A large change in enthalpy (Delta H approximate to 195 kJ/mol) as Co3O4 is converted to CoO affects heat transfer and the economy of producing oxygen by this method. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.