Transient studies of the elementary steps of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

The transient response curves produced during hydrogenation of carbon monoxide pulses in a flow of hydrogen have been analyzed using the modified Kobayashi model, which involves irreversible chemisorption and dissociation of carbon monoxide, quasi-equilibrated adsorption of hydrogen and reversible adsorption of water. The kinetic analysis suggests that oxygen-containing species are probably the most abundant surface intermediates. Desorption of water from the catalysts seems to be much slower than hydrogenation of surface carbon species.