H2-induced promotion of CO oxidation over unsupported gold

The kinetics and mechanism of the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen (PrOx) over an unsupported gold powder (mean particle size 20 nm and free of silver) have been investigated using flow fixed bed catalytic testing and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy coupled to mass spectrometry (operando DRIFTS or DRIFTS-MS). It is shown that the presence of H₂ has a favourable effect on the oxidation of CO, either by strongly accelerating the reaction or by preventing the catalyst deactivation, depending on the conditions used. Variation of the hydrogen partial pressure has allowed us to determine partial reaction orders for both CO oxidation and H₂ oxidation under PrOx conditions. An infrared band at 2113 cm⁻¹, corresponding to on-top CO adsorption on metallic gold, has been observed below 150 °C. In addition, adsorbed hydroxyl groups gradually develop simultaneously to gas-phase water in the course of the reaction at increasing temperatures. The promotional effect of hydrogen is ascribed to highly oxidative H_xO_y intermediates formed from the interaction between H₂ and O₂ on the gold surface.