The dependence of WGS kinetics on hydrogen concentration has been assumed to be zero in the past. The effect of hydrogen on reaction kinetics is determined in this study. Sulfur activity governs the reaction to a very large extent. The governing relationship is determined in the present investigation and so is the effect of gaseous phase mixing on reaction kinetics. A comparison of catalytic activity of the three catalysts used is obtained through variation of relative presence of the various components.
Potassium carbonate is found to effect the most enhancement of reaction rate at all compositions.
The enhancement is maximum in the presence of excess of water, at low ratios of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide to hydrogen concentrations. Praseodymium oxide is also postulated to promote activity in the presence of excess of water, with carbon dioxide and hydrogen concentrations having little or no influence on reaction. Acidity measurements result in correspondence of minimum acidity and maximum basicity with potassium carbonate promoted catalyst. The increase in basicity enhances CO adsorption and resultant activity-enhancement, but with simultaneous inhibition due to increase in CO 2 adsorption on the basic surface. Acidic praseodymium oxide promoted catalyst exhibits decrease in CO adsorption and resultant drop in CO activity.