Kinetics of the oxidation of carbon monoxide on a supported ferric oxide catalyst

Kinetic studies were made of the oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in a fixed bed of ferric oxide catalyst. It was found that the rate of oxidation, R , is given by the equation R = k 1 k 1 pco/1+(k 1 /k 2 )pco where k 1 , k 1 and k 2 are constants and p co is the partial pressure of carbon monoxide. This rate law is similar to that derived for the same reaction on a vanadium oxide catalyst. The rate equation reduces to first order for carbon monoxide concentrations < 1 %.