Using time-resolved methods to monitor and understand catalytic oxidation reactions

A number of strategies for time-resolved analysis of heterogeneous oxidation reactions are being explored. They comprise the temporal analysis of products (TAP) reactor including micro-kinetic evaluation of TAP experiments, steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis, and time-resolved catalyst characterization by in-situ spectroscopic techniques. The present review demonstrates the potential of these methods for elucidating mechanistic and kinetic aspects of oxidative functionalization of C2–C3 hydrocarbons, water–gas shift reaction, direct N2O decomposition, and high-temperature ammonia oxidation to nitric oxide (Ostwald process). Particular emphasis will be put on the application of isotopic labels and time-resolved analysis of gas-phase and surface species for identifying true surface intermediate species. Perspectives in further developments of time-resolved methods will be also indicated.