The kinetics of the heterogeneous oxidation of zinc vapor by carbon dioxide

• Published in: Chemical engineering science 2013-04, Vol.93, p.163-172
• Main Authors: Venstrom, Luke J., Davidson, Jane H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: activation energy; atmospheric pressure; carbon dioxide; chemical engineering; Energy; Fuel; Kinetics; Mass transfer; Metal oxidation; oxidation; quartz; Solar; temperature; vapors; zinc
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2013.01.038

The heterogeneous oxidation of Zn(g) is a promising reaction pathway for the conversion of CO2 into CO in the two-step Zn/ZnO solar thermochemical cycle as it eliminates the solid-state diffusion limitation that plagues the oxidation of Zn(l,s). The rate of the heterogeneous oxidation of Zn(g) is measured gravimetrically in a quartz tubular flow reactor operated at atmospheric pressure for temperatures between 800 and 1150K, Zn(g) concentrations up to 36mol%, and CO2 concentrations up to 45mol%. The surface kinetics are extracted from the global reaction rate using a numerical reacting flow model that accounts for the transport of reacting species in the gas phase. The oxidation of Zn(g) by CO2 is rapid, on the order of 10−8–10−5molcm−2s−1, and the rate is proportional to the product of the Zn(g) and CO2 partial pressures at the reaction surface. The activation energy for the Arrhenius reaction rate parameter is 44±3kJmol−1 and the pre-exponential factor is (92±6)×10−3molcm−2s−1atm−2. As a result of the rapid rate of oxidation of Zn(g), less than 1s is required to convert more than 85% of Zn to ZnO. ► The oxidation of Zn(g) overcomes a kinetic barrier in the Zn/ZnO solar redox cycle. ► The oxidation of Zn(g) by CO2 proceeds at 10−8–10−5molcm−2s−1 at 800–1150K. ► The oxidation of Zn(g) is at least 10 times faster than the oxidation of Zn(l,s). ► A model is developed that decouples surface oxidation from gas phase transport. ► The oxidation of Zn(g) follows the kinetic expression R″=kpZn(g)pCO2.