Symposium on application of pulse techniques to kinetic measurements: Influence of cycling on the rate of oxidation of SO₂ over a vanadia catalyst

Feed composition cycling of the catalytic oxidation of SO 2 to SO 3 in an isothermal, differential reactor was studied using an industrial vanadia catalyst. Reaction was carried out at 405°C using square‐wave cycles of SO 2 , O 2 and N 2 at pressures close to atmospheric and at constant total molar flow through the reactor. Significant increases were found in the rate of oxidation of SO 2 over steady‐state values, depending upon the choice of both amplitude and period. Some preliminary interpretation of these results is provided.