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Ammonia synthesis: The bellwether reaction in heterogeneous catalysis

Topics in Catalysis volume 1, pages 405–414 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

This is a personal account of the Havreholm Conference with a choice of topics dealing with catalytic ammonia synthesis. Among the general concepts that were retained are: the rate determining step with rates of adsorption and desorption of nitrogen; the direct activated dissociative adsorption of N2; the surface crystalline anisotropy of iron; the role of promoters in industrial iron based catalysts; and the atomic structure of the metallic surface on the industrial multiply promoted catalyst. Finally, a new isotope jump technique to measure an upper limit to the real turnover frequency is discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 94305-5025, Stanford, CA, USA

    M. Boudart

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  1. M. Boudart
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Boudart, M. Ammonia synthesis: The bellwether reaction in heterogeneous catalysis. Top Catal 1, 405–414 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01492292

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01492292

Keywords

  • ammonia synthesis
  • microkinetic modeling
  • nitrogen dissociation
  • surface structure
  • rate determining step
  • promotion
  • isotope tracing