CO2 poisoning of the γ-alumina-catalyzed reaction of COS with SO2

Abstract

The poisoning of γ-alumina by CO₂ has been shown to suppress the catalytic reaction, 2COS + SO₂⇌(3/x)S_x+ 2CO₂. Using infra-red spectroscopic evidence, a mechanism of reaction was postulated in which SO₂ is adsorbed on hydroxyl sites and COS is adsorbed on aluminum ion sites. The latter sites become blocked through irreversible chemisorption of CO₂. The postulated mechanism appears to explain other experimental observations.