Apparent equilibrium shifts and hot-spot formation for catalytic reactionsinduced by microwave dielectric heating

Microwave dielectric heating of the gas phase decomposition of H2S catalyse d by metal sulfides on a gamma-Al2O3 support results in significant apparen t shifts in the equilibrium constant, which have been attributed to the dev elopment of hot-spots in the catalytic beds; X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy measurements have indicated the formation of hot-spots with dim ensions of 90-1000 mu m and which involve not only the active phase, but al so the support.