The N2O–carbon reaction: The influence of CO and potassium on reactivity and populations of oxygen surface complexes

N2O reduction on two different chars promoted with potassium was investigated using temperature programmed reaction, as well as isothermal reaction followed by temperature programmed desorption. It was found that potassium promotion significantly increased the N2O reduction activity of the phenolic resin char, but not for the Wyodak coal char. Additional CO in the reactor feed gas had no discernible effect on the N2O reduction rate of the phenolic resin char, but it did significantly increase the reactivity of the promoted, demineralized Wyodak coal char. The latter is attributed to residual mineral matter impurities in the coal that are not removed by the demineralization process used.