Interaction of Steam and Charcoal at Low Pressures

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and physical sciences Mathematical and physical sciences, 1947-03, Vol.189 (1016), p.1-10
• Main Author: Strickland-Constable, R. F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Charcoal; Desorption; Gases; Hydrogen; Low pressure; Steam; Vapor phases; Water pressure; Water vapor
• ISSN: 1364-5021; 0080-4630; 1471-2946; 2053-9169
• DOI: 10.1098/rspa.1947.0026

The reaction between charcoal and water vapour at temperatures up to 700° C and at pressures of less than 1 mm. has been studied. Water vapour, hydrogen and carbon monoxide have all been shown to be reversibly adsorbed at the reaction temperatures. Hydrogen is adsorbed strongly and rapidly; carbon monoxide is adsorbed in considerably smaller quantity and much more slowly. When charcoal reacts with water vapour at low pressures, the pressure falls during the rapid initial adsorption of the water vapour, and subsequently rises during the desorption of the product gases. The proportions of carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the product gases were found to vary throughout the reaction in a special manner. The variations can, however, be simply explained on the basis of the adsorption data. The kinetics of the reaction at higher pressures are discussed: they can likewise be adequately explained on the basis of the adsorption data. Reasons are given for supposing that the water vapour is adsorbed in the molecular condition.