2001A&A...365..465R

We present in this paper a study on the peculiar supergiant HD 172481. Its spectral type (F2Ia), high galactic latitude (b=-10.37)° circumstellar dust, high radial velocity and moderate metal deficiency ([Fe/H]=-0.55) confirm the post-AGB character of this object. A detailed chemical analysis shows slight but real s-process overabundances, however no CNO-enhancement was detected. Furthermore, the spectral energy distribution and the TiO bands in the red part of the spectrum reveal a red luminous companion. The luminosity ratio of the hot F type component and this cool M type companion L_F/L_M is derived for a reddening of E(B-V)=0.44 (L_F/L_M ∼1.8) and indicates that the companion must also be strongly evolved and probably evolving along the AGB. Neither our photometric data-set, nor our radial velocity monitoring show evidence for orbital variability which may indicate that the period is too large for direct binary interaction. Most interestingly, a strong lithium resonance line is detected, which yields an abundance of logε(Li)=3.6. Several explanations for this large lithium content are explored.