A simple method for CO chemisorption studies under continuous flow: Adsorption and desorption behavior of Pt/Al2O3 catalysts Original Research Article

A simple and rapid method for the determination of metal dispersion of technical catalysts is presented, which is based on temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of pre-adsorbed CO in a continuous-flow reactor at atmospheric conditions. A commercial Pt/Al2O3 diesel oxidation catalyst is studied as an example. In the TPD spectra, desorption of CO as well as CO2 is considered. Furthermore, a pulse adsorption technique is applied to better understand the adsorption–desorption behavior and the oxidation of CO. Metal dispersion based on the TPD methods presented agrees well with data derived from H2 and CO chemisorption measurements using commercial set-ups.