The oxidation of zinc vapor in CO-CO2-N2 gas mixtures

The kinetics of oxidation of zinc vapor in the Zn-CO-CO2-N2 system was investigated for zinc partial pressures of 0.01 to 0.09 atm, carbon monoxide partial pressures up to 0.5 atm, and carbon dioxide partial pressures up to 0.6 atm at 730 °C to 900 °C. The experimental apparatus consisted of a flow reactor and a multitemperature zone furnace. Known gas compositions were generated and the rate of oxidation of zinc vapor was determined from the mass of zinc oxide deposited under controlled conditions. The rate of oxidation of zinc was found to be a function of temperature and of the partial pressures of zinc, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. It was autocatalytic with respect to carbon monoxide and independent of the total mass of zinc oxide deposited. The reactions occurring in parallel for this mechanism are \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} $$Zn(g) + CO_2 (g) = ZnO(s) + CO(g)$$ \end{document} and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} $$Zn(g) + CO_2 (g) + CO(g) = ZnO(s) + 2CO(g)$$ \end{document} The two oxidation reactions occur simultaneously, both involving carbon dioxide and one with carbon monoxide as a catalyst.