Temperature‐programmed desorption: Multisite and subsurface diffusion models

Abstract

AbstractTwo models are presented that can simulate two peaks in a temperature‐programmed desorption (TPD) spectrum from a high surface area catalyst at atmospheric pressure: a multisite model and a subsurface diffusion model. The multisite model assumes that the two peaks arise from two distinct adsorption sites on the catalyst surface with different activation energies for desorption. The subsurface diffusion model assumes that the high‐temperature peak is produced by adsorbate that diffuses into the subsurface region of the catalyst during heating, and then back to the surface when it becomes depleted by the desorption process. It is shown that one can distinguish between the two models experimentally by measuring the effect of carrier gas flow rate and heating rate on the TPD spectrum.