INFRARED CHEMILUMINESCENCE STUDY OF CO PRODUCED BY PARTIAL OXIDATION OF BUTANE ON PLATINUM

The selective formation of CO and H-2 was observed by a molecular-beam catalytic reaction between n-C4H10 and O2 on a Pt surface from around 1000 to 1500 K. The infrared emission of the product CO desorbed from the surface showed that the CO molecules are vibrationally substantially excited but rotationally very cool (rotational temperature; T(R) = 360 K). The present molecular-beam study showed that CO and H-2 were formed directly from the hydrocarbon and O2 without involving formation of CO2 and H2O as primary products. The implications of these results are discussed for the partial oxidation of methane (and other alkanes) to synthesis gas using practical supported metal catalysts.