Heterogeneous Catalysis in Solution Part 15.1—Theoretical Treatment of Parallel First-Order Catalysed and Uncatalysed Reactions

Abstract

A general treatment is presented of first-order or pseudo-first-order reactions proceeding both homogeneously in solution or the gas phase and heterogeneously on a catalytic surface. Rapid adsorption and desorption are assumed for both reactant and product, and equations are derived for Henry, Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption of both species. Interconversions of kinetically identical species, reactions proceeding to completion and purely heterogeneous processes emerge as special cases, and the relationship to enzyme kinetics is pointed out. Methods are suggested for fitting the theory to experimental kinetic data.