Kinetics of phenol oxidation with ozone in a thin layer on a solid surface

Ozone has been reacted with phenol in thin supported layers, and the dynamics of this reaction has been investigated. The stoichiometry of this reaction coincides with the stoichiometry of the same reaction in solution. Specific reaction rate (β) has been determined for various phenol conversions. The effective rate constant of the reaction, estimated by extrapolating β to zero reaction time, is significantly higher than the rate constant of the reaction in solution. The reaction between ozone and phenol is diffusion-controlled. The reaction products form a barrier layer, which protects the deeper phenol layers against ozone. The barrier layer is as thick as 8–15 phenol monolayers.