Abstract
The $CO_2-CH_4$ reaction catalyzed by Ni/silicon wafers was kinetically studied by using a photoacoustic technique. The catalytic reaction was performed at various partial pressures of $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ (50 Torr total pressure of $CO_2/CH_4/N_2$) in the temperature range of 500 - $650^{\circ}C$ in a static reactor system. The photoacoustic signal that varied with the $CO_2$ concentration during the catalytic reaction was recorded as a function of time. Under the reaction conditions, the $CO_2$ photoacoustic measurements showed the as-prepared Ni thin film sample to be inactive for the reaction, while the $CO_2/CH_4$ reactions carried out in the presence of the sample pre-treated in $H_2$ at $600^{\circ}C$ were associated with significant time-dependent changes in the $CO_2$ photoacoustic signal. The rate of $CO_2$ disappearance was measured from the $CO_2$ photoacoustic signal data in the early reaction period of 50 - 150 sec to obtain precise kinetic data. The apparent activation energy for $CO_2$ consumption was determined to be 6.9 kcal/mol from the $CO_2$ disappearance rates. The partial reaction orders, determined from the $CO_2$ disappearance rates measured at various $PCO{_2}'S$ and $PCH{_4}'S$ at $600^{\circ}C$, were determined to be 0.33 for $CH_4$ and 0.63 for $CO_2$, respectively. Kinetic data obtained in these measurements were compared with previous works and were discussed to construct a catalytic reaction mechanism for the $CO_2-CH_4$ reaction over Ni/silicon wafer at low pressures.
