SURFACE EXPLOSIONS OF ACETATE INTERMEDIATES ON RH CRYSTALS AND CATALYSTS

In recent years a new class of surface reactions has been reported on single crystals, reactions classified by others as ''surface explosion s''. We show for the first time that these reactions translate directl y to catalyst surfaces consisting of finely dispersed metal particles, Rh on alumina in this case, under normal conditions of ambient pressu re. These reactions appear to be classical second order autocatalytic decompositions, depending on the creation of active metal sites for th e isothermal acceleration which is observed. The acetate on the Rh sur face is proposed to be the pivotal intermediate in high pressure synth esis of ethanol from synthesis gas (CO + H-2), a reaction of interest as a possible source of an important future feedstock chemical from na tural gas.