Kinetics of ethylene oxidation on plane Pt/SiO2 catalysts in the viscous pressure regime: Evidence of support activity

C2H4 oxidation on plane Pt/SiO2 model catalysts with various Pt loadings was studied at T = 373-473 K and in the pressure ranges 10(-6)-10(2) Torr C2H4 and 0.3-1500 Torr O-2 (1 Torr = 133.3 Pa). Mass spectrometry combined with spatially resolved gas sampling enabled kinetic data to be collected far into the viscous pressure regime. Reaction orders and activation energies were similar to those of a macroscopic Pt surface. However, under fuel-lean conditions the global reaction rate decreases faster than the decrease in metal area. On the other hand, the global rate was independent of Pt loading and metal surface area in fuel-rich gas mixtures. This is interpreted in terms of a spillover effect.