Conducting a spiking experiment involves several key steps:
1. Selection of Spike: Choose a substance that is relevant to the reaction mechanism or catalyst being studied. This could be a reactant, product, intermediate, or inhibitor. 2. Baseline Reaction: Perform the catalytic reaction without the spike to establish a baseline for comparison. 3. Addition of Spike: Introduce the spike into the reaction system at a controlled concentration and time. 4. Monitoring the Reaction: Use analytical techniques such as Gas Chromatography (GC), Mass Spectrometry (MS), or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to monitor changes in reaction kinetics, product distribution, and catalyst behavior. 5. Data Analysis: Compare the results with the baseline to interpret the effects of the spike on the catalytic process.
