Kinetics and mechanism of reverse water-gas shift reaction on a Cu-ZnO-AI2O3 catalyst

Department of Physics II, University of Craiova, A. I. Cuza 13, 1100 Craiova, Romania
E-mail : protaru@central.ucv.ro Fax: 40-51-415077

Manuscript received 27 April 2000. revised 30 October 2000, accepted 19 February 2001

The kinetic data of reverse water-gas shift reaction on a Cu-ZnO-AI₂O₃ catalyst have been determined by means of a perfectly stirred catalytic reactor. Hougen-Watson method has been applied in analysis of kinetic data while in processing of experimental data use has been made of Powel's algorithm. From among the possible mechanisms of the process, Rideal-Eley's one is prevailingly accepted; according to this mechanism the carbon dioxide adsorbed on catalyst surface reacts with the hydrogen in gas phase. The activation energy of the process amounts to 61.03 kJ mol^-1.