Catalysis of carbon monoxide isotope exchange reaction by molybdenum

Abstract

The initial sticking probability of carbon monoxide on a molybdenum filament is 0.3, and is essentially independent of filament temperature between 296 and 820°K. When the filament saturated with carbon monoxide is heated, the adsorbed gas is evolved in two separate bursts which start at filament temperatures of about 450 and 850°K. Above a temperature of approximately 1100°K the filament catalyzes the carbon monoxide isotope equilibration reaction ¹²C¹⁸O+¹³C¹⁶O =¹²C¹⁶O+¹³C¹⁸O

with an efficiency of approximately 50 %. The reaction first becomes measurable at the same temperature at that as which desorption of the more strongly-bonded carbon monoxide occurs.