What Information Can Be Gained from Step Change Experiments?
Step change experiments can provide valuable insights into several aspects of catalytic reactions:
Reaction Mechanism: By analyzing the transient response, researchers can identify the presence of reaction intermediates and propose plausible reaction pathways. Rate-Determining Step: The experiments can help pinpoint the slowest step in the reaction mechanism, which is often the rate-determining step. Adsorption and Desorption Kinetics: The response to a step change can reveal information about the adsorption and desorption rates of reactants and products on the catalyst surface. Mass Transfer Limitations: Deviations from expected kinetic behavior can indicate the presence of mass transfer limitations, such as diffusion barriers. Thermodynamic Parameters: The experiments can also provide estimates of thermodynamic parameters like equilibrium constants and heats of adsorption.
