KINETIC-STUDY OF ISOTOPIC EXCHANGE-REACTION BETWEEN HYDROGEN AND WATER-VAPOR OVER A PT/SDBC HYDROPHOBIC CATALYST SHEET

The isotopic exchange reaction between hydrogen and water vapor was studied for the temperature range 313 K to 353 K using 2. 2% platinum supported on a hydrophobic styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer (SDBC) sheet. With increasing relative humidity, the exchange rate increased, giving a stepped profile with a knee shape, and the reaction order with respect to hydrogen increased from almost zero to first order. In order to explain this unusual behavior, a simple kinetic model was proposed assuming that the water molecules are adsorbed in a multilayer on the platinum surface, and are subject to the exchange equivalent to finite number of layers. On the other hand, this multilayer of adsorbed water inhibits the transfer of HD to the platinum surface.