Role of Silica Gel in the Radiation-induced Reaction of CO/H₂ Gas Mixtures

Abstract

Product analysis was carried out for radiation-induced reaction of CO/H, gas mixtures with CO contents between 1∼90% in the presence and absence of silica gel. Low-molecularweight hydrocarbons and CO₂ were produced in good yields from the reaction of the mixtures over the whole range of CO content in the presence of silica gel. The yield of H₂O produced over silica gel, on the other hand, decreased markedly with CO contents higher than 5%, suggesting that silica gel exhibits catalytic activity for the water gas shift reaction under electron beam irradiation. The role of silica gel in the formation of hydrocarbons in the radiation chemical reaction of CO/H₂ mixtures is discussed on the basis of the results obtained from the studies of the radiolysis of CO which produces CO₂ and carbonaceous solid, and the structure and radiation-induced hydrogenolysis of the carbonaceous solid.