Critical phenomena as a discriminating factor in the studies of reaction mechanisms

Eleven mechanisms for heterogeneous catalytic ethylene hydrogenation obtain ed with a computer program MECHEM were examined for possible multiplicity o f steady states in an isothermal flow-type well-stirred reactor. Of these e leven mechanisms, four allow the multiplicity of steady states, but the oth ers do not. The multiplicity of steady states is shown to be a strong discr iminating factor when considering the hypothetical mechanisms of catalytic reactions.