Abstract
The oxidation of carbon monoxide by gaseous oxygen in the presence of a powdered $Nd_{1-x}Sr_xCoO_{3-y}$ solid solution as a catalyst has been investigated in the temperature range from 150$^{\circ}$C to 300$^{\circ}$C under various CO and $O_2$ partial pressures. The site of Sr substitution, nonstoichiometry, structure, and microstructure were studied by means of powder X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The electrical conductivity of the solid solution has been measured at 300$^{\circ}$C under various CO and $O_2$ partial pressures. The oxidation rates have been correlated with 1.5-and 1.2-order kinetics with and without a $CO_2$ trap, respectively; first-and 0.7 order with respect to CO and 0.5-order to $O_2$. For the above reaction temperature range, the activation energy is in the range from 0.25 to 0.35 eV/mol. From the infrared spectroscopic, conductivity and kinetic data, CO appears essentially to be adsorbed on the lattice oxygens of the catalyst, while $O_2$ adsorbs as ions on the oxygen vacancies formed by Sr substitution. The oxygen vacancy mechanism of the CO oxidation and the main defect of $Nd_{1-x}Sr_xCoO_{3-y}$ solid solution are supported and suggested from the agreement between IR data, conductivities, and kinetic data.