Reaction of nitrous oxide with cobalt-manganese spinels containing admixed lithium, titanium and copper oxides

Abstract

1. The reaction between nitrous oxide and cobalt-manganese spinels containing admixed lithium, titanium, and copper oxide has been studied. 2. When the decomposition takes place on a spinel of nearly normal structure, the over-all kinetics are found to be first order, whereas zero order is observed on spinels of reverse or strongly distorted structure. 3. N2O decomposition on spinels is retarded by oxygen present in the gas phase and also by oxygen sorbed by, or penetrated into, the spinel in the course of the reaction. 4. It has been established that the activity of spinels varies symbatically with their capacity to chemisorb oxygen. 5. Decomposition of chemisorbed N2O, or regeneration of active centers, will be the rate-determining step in the catalytic decomposition of nitrous oxide.