AN IN-SITU INFRARED STUDY OF HYDROGENATION OF CO OVER RH ZRO2/

FT-IR has been used to follow the formation and reaction of surface sp ecies during the hydrogenation of CO over a Rh/ZrO2 catalyst al high t emperature and pressure. Particular attention has been paid to the rel ationship between carbonate and formate species. The reaction was stud ied at various reaction temperatures and for two catalyst reduction te mperatures. Carbonate species which are probably located at the metal/ support interface are hydrogenated to give formate species. Pretreatme nts which modify the metal/support interface influence the relationshi p between carbonate and formate.