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The active surface species in alkali-catalyzed carbon gasification: Phenolate (C-O-M) groups vs clusters (particles)

Journal Article · · Journal of Catalysis; (United States)
;  [1]
  1. State Univ. of New York, Buffalo, NY (United States)

The activities and catalytic roles of different species of potassium in the gasification reactions of graphite by H[sub 2]O and CO[sub 2] are investigated. TEM techniques are used to measure the rates of monolayer edge recession (uncatalyzed and C-O-K catalyzed) and rates of monolayer channeling (catalyzed by particles) on the basal plane of graphite reacting with 21 Torr H[sub 2]O at 700[degrees]C. The turnover frequencies for carbon gasification are: 0.08 s[sup -1] (catalyzed by C-O-K groups), and 7.8 s[sup -1] (catalyzed by particles). Thus the particles have a high activity, whereas the C-O-K groups have only a small activity. TGA and literature results using mixtures of carbon and alkali salts show a sigmoidal dependence of gasification rates on catalyst loading. This is the result of catalyst dispersion and competition between the C-O-K groups and alkali particles. A CNDO semi-empirical molecular orbital calculation is performed on model graphite substrates with -O and -O-K groups bonded to the (10[bar 1]l) zigzag face and (11[bar 2]l) armchair face. On the zigzag face, the carbon atom bridging two C-O-K groups gains a large negative charge (-0.486) and hence is a favorable site for binding an O atom. The surface C-C bonds in this structure are substantially weakened by adding O atoms on the bridging C atoms, leading to CO the alkali particles being more active than the C-O-M (where M = alkali) groups is that the particles can dissociate H[sub 2]O and CO[sub 2] at higher rates, by providing either more active sites or higher activities. The CNDO results also predict that the C-O-K groups have an inhibiting effect on the armchair face. 47 refs., 6 figs., 4 tabs.

OSTI ID:
5990033
Journal Information:
Journal of Catalysis; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis; (United States) Vol. 141:1; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English