A global kinetic model of the FTS over a Co/Al2O3 state-of-the-art catalyst is developed in a fixed bed micro-reactor under conditions relevant to industrial operation (temperature, 210-235 degrees C; pressure, 8-25 bar; H-2/CO feed molar ratio, 1.8-2.7; gas hourly space velocity, 2000-7000cm(3)(STP)/h/g(catalyst))- On the basis of proposed reaction mechanisms, developed according to the carbide theory and the alkyl mechanism, the kinetic expressions for n-paraffins and alpha-olefins formation are derived. Both the calculated CO conversion and the hydrocarbon distribution (up to n = 49) in FT reaction are satisfactorily predicted. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.