How to Apply the Weisz-Prater Criterion in Practice?
To apply the Weisz-Prater criterion, one needs to measure or estimate the required parameters:
Determine the observed reaction rate from experimental data. Calculate the characteristic length of the catalyst particle, which can be approximated by the particle radius for spherical particles. Estimate the effective diffusivity of the reactant within the catalyst, which may require empirical correlations or experimental determination. Measure the surface concentration of the reactant, which can be done using appropriate analytical techniques.
Once these parameters are known, the value of C_wp can be calculated to assess the presence of internal diffusion limitations.
