R. Dumpelmann et al., THE FORMATION OF ISOCYANIC ACID (HNCO) BY REACTION OF NO, CO, AND H-2OVER PT SIO2 AND ITS HYDROLYSIS ON ALUMINA/, Journal of catalysis, 162(1), 1996, pp. 96-103
The reaction of mixtures of NO, CO, and H-2 over Pt/SiO2 in combinatio
n with Al2O3 has been investigated with on-line Fourier transform infr
ared spectroscopy as the principal analytical method. With Pt/SiO2 alo
ne isocyanic acid (HNCO) can be observed directly as a substantial pro
duct. It comprises up to 45% of the CO converted in the temperature ra
nge from 200 to 300 degrees C, The yield is maximized when the amounts
of H-2 and CO in the input stream are equal. No HNCO can be observed
in experiments in which Al2O3 is placed downstream of the Pt/SiO2 or w
ith a Pt/Al2O3 catalyst, Hydrolysis to NH3 and CO2 is then complete, F
or this reason it is unlikely that HNCO will escape a catalytic conver
ter in vehicle use but it may be a significant intermediate during the
warm-up phase, The formation of HNCO can be rationalized as resulting
from the hydrogenation of NCO groups present in small concentrations
on the Pt surface under conditions of high CO coverage. The yield of H
NCO falls steeply above 300 degrees C when the CO coverage is falling,
It is unclear if hydrolysis of HNCO occurs by direct reaction of mole
cular HNCO on the Al2O3 surface or proceeds via the ubiquitious suppor
t-bound isocyanate species which have been observed in many previous s
tudies, Previous observations of isocyanate formation in hydrogen-free
systems can be rationalized as arising from HNCO formation by reverse
spillover of hydrogen from OH groups on the support to generate HNCO
on the platinum metal. This is then transported back to the support th
rough the gas phase to form NCO groups. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.