In situ ATR-IR study of nitrite hydrogenation over Pd/Al2O3

The mechanism of nitrite hydrogenation over a Pd/Al2O3 catalyst layer deposited on a ZnSe internal reflection element was investigated in water using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. Nitrite hydrogenates to NO(ads), NH2(ads), and NH+4 on the palladium surface. Hydrogenation of adsorbed NO on palladium results in the formation of a reaction product that is not infrared-active (most likely nitrogen), whereas no NH+4 is formed from NO(ads). NH+4 is formed solely from hydrogenation of the NH2(ads) intermediate. The present study clearly shows that formation of nitrogen and NH+4 proceeds via two separate pathways, based on which a revised reaction scheme is proposed.