Effect of surface on the gas-phase oxidation of methanol catalysed by nitric oxide

Abstract

A study has been made of the effect of the surface-to-volume ratio of the reaction vessel and of coatings of various inorganic substances on the vessel walls on the gas-phase oxidation of methanol catalysed by nitric oxide. The results show that, whereas packing the vessel does not have a marked effect on the rate, the kinetics of the reaction are profoundly influenced by the nature of the surface. The results suggest that the methanol-oxidation chains are initiated at the surface by reaction between methanol and nitrogen dioxide, and that HO₂ radicals play an important role in the subsequent chain reaction.