Island models and the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide and carbon monoxide-olefin mixtures

Simple kinetic models which take account of the formation of islands of adsorbate on a catalyst surface are proposed, and are compared with an elementary step model for CO oxidation and oxidation of a CO-butene or CO-propylene mixture. The island models give fits to data from step change transient experiments which are comparable with the elementary step model, and give better fits to steady-state and continuously oscillating data (the latter with hydrocarbon present). Theoretical predictions of chaotic behaviour in CO oxidation can be obtained with the island models. Comparisons between island models suggest that islands of CO have the most significant effect on simulations at the experimental conditions.