RELATION BETWEEN THE GASIFICATION RATE OF CARBONS SUPPORTING ALKALI-METAL SALTS AND THE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN TRAPPED BY THE METAL

The amount of oxygen trapped by metal on the surface of carbon was measured by the flash desorption method by use of a Curie-point pyrolyser. The steam gasification rate of the carbon supporting several alkali metal salts was proportional to the amount of oxygen measured. Furthermore, the molar amount of oxygen trapped by metal on the carbon surface was found to equal the molar amount of metal supported. The F. T. -i. r. spectra indicated that the alkali metal (M) traps oxygen in the form of an M-O-C bond. A mechanism for the catalytic gasification, consistent with these findings, was developed. The gasification rate equation based on this mechanism was found to fit the expterimental data.