Raman diagnostics of heterogeneous chemical processes

The suitability of cw Raman spectroscopy for characterization of mass transport phenomena in connection with heterogeneous chemical processes is demonstrated for the example of the catalytic hydrogenation of acetylene. Temperature and concentration profiles in a model reactor were derived simultaneously from H₂ pure rotational lines and from the most intenseQ branches of C₂H₂ and of C₂H₄. The temperature dependence of the band contours has been considered; by careful calibration the systematic error of the derived concentration values is limited to less than 2%. The measurements allow the separation of the effects of thermal diffusion and of the reaction.