Selective oxidation of CO under conditions of catalyst surface ignition

The oxidation of CO in the presence of an excess of hydrogen and to 20% CO₂ and H₂O in the starting mixture was studied in flow reactors with high and low rates of heat removal. The ignition of the catalyst surface was observed in the reactor with a low rate of heat removal; catalyst surface ignition initially occurred at a “hot” spot (section) of the catalyst bed and gradually propagated along the bed. Experimental data on the relaxation dynamics of residual CO concentration and temperature in a catalyst bed under conditions of small heater temperature disturbances near and at the critical temperature of ignition and the effect of oxygen concentration in the starting mixture on this process are reported. It was found exprimentally that the ignition regime in the tested cases was more favorable for the selective oxidation of CO in an excess of hydrogen than the reaction in an isothermal reactor; this was likely due to the more favorable temperature distribution over the length of the catalyst bed.