Article,
Deactivation dynamics of rough catalytic surfaces
AICHE JOURNAL, 51 (3): 998-1008 (2005)
DOI: 10.1002/aic.10366
Abstract
The dynamics of deactivation due to parallel fouling is investigated in
the case of a rough reactive interface under diffusion-limited
conditions. For a first-order reaction, a mathematical method is
introduced that permits to analyze the response of the system for any
type of interface geometry or input condition. Exact analytical results,
such as the lifetime of the catalyst or its total production are
calculated. The deactivation dynamics in specific geometries, such as a
flat catalytic surface, an infinite pore or a rough surface, are
examined. Through these three examples, a general picture of the role of
the morphology on the system response is provided. Even more, this
approach shows that the determination of a single time response function
of a catalyst of unknown morphology provides a means to control the
dynamics of the production process. (C) 2005 American Institute of
Chemical Engineers.
