Kinetic elementary steps

Consider a micellar solution at equilibrium that is subject to a sudden temperature change (T-jump). At the new temperature the equilibrium aggregate size distribution will be somewhat different and a redistribution of micellar sizes will occur. Aniansson and Wall now made the important observation that when scheme (5.1) represents the kinetic elementary step, and when there is a strong minimum in the micelle size distribution as in Fig. 2.23(a) the redistribution of micelle sizes is a two-step process. In the first and faster step relaxation occurs to a quasi-equilibrium state which is formed under the constraint that the total number of micelles remains constant. Thus the fast process involves reactions in scheme (5.1) for aggregates of sizes close to the maximum in the distribution. This process is characterized by an exponential relaxation with a time constant Tj equal to... 

The classical thermochemical approach has also already been applied to special template-assisted chemical reactions like the template-directed synthesis of oligonucleotides [260], for which a detailed system of kinetic elementary steps has been derived and solved. Other examples are the thermochemical model for the assessment of cooperativity in self-assembly processes proposed in Ref. [261, 262] and for the quantitative description of multicomponent self-assembly processes of polymetallic helicates [263, 264]. More thermochemical approaches applied within particular fields of supramolecular chemistry will be mentioned in the following. 

The system of coupled differential equations that result from a compound reaction mechanism consists of several different (reversible) elementary steps. The kinetics are described by a system of coupled differential equations rather than a single rate law. This system can sometimes be decoupled by assuming that the concentrations of the intennediate species are small and quasi-stationary. The Lindemann mechanism of thermal unimolecular reactions [18,19] affords an instructive example for the application of such approximations. This mechanism is based on the idea that a molecule A has to pick up sufficient energy... 

An important point about kinetics of cyclic reactions is tliat if an overall reaction proceeds via a sequence of elementary steps in a cycle (e.g., figure C2.7.2), some of tliese steps may be equilibrium limited so tliat tliey can proceed at most to only minute conversions. Nevertlieless, if a step subsequent to one tliat is so limited is characterized by a large enough rate constant, tlien tire equilibrium-limited step may still be fast enough for tire overall cycle to proceed rapidly. Thus, tire step following an equilibrium-limited step in tire cycle pulls tire cycle along—it drains tire intennediate tliat can fonn in only a low concentration because of an equilibrium limitation and allows tire overall reaction (tire cycle) to proceed rapidly. A good catalyst accelerates tire steps tliat most need a boost. 

Complex chemical mechanisms are written as sequences of elementary steps satisfying detailed balance where tire forward and reverse reaction rates are equal at equilibrium. The laws of mass action kinetics are applied to each reaction step to write tire overall rate law for tire reaction. The fonn of chemical kinetic rate laws constmcted in tliis manner ensures tliat tire system will relax to a unique equilibrium state which can be characterized using tire laws of tliennodynamics. 

Mechanisms. Mechanism is a technical term, referring to a detailed, microscopic description of a chemical transformation. Although it falls far short of a complete dynamical description of a reaction at the atomic level, a mechanism has been the most information available. In particular, a mechanism for a reaction is sufficient to predict the macroscopic rate law of the reaction. This deductive process is vaUd only in one direction, ie, an unlimited number of mechanisms are consistent with any measured rate law. A successful kinetic study, therefore, postulates a mechanism, derives the rate law, and demonstrates that the rate law is sufficient to explain experimental data over some range of conditions. New data may be discovered later that prove inconsistent with the assumed rate law and require that a new mechanism be postulated. Mechanisms state, in particular, what molecules actually react in an elementary step and what products these produce. An overall chemical equation may involve a variety of intermediates, and the mechanism specifies those intermediates. For the overall equation... 

The many methods used in kinetic studies can be classified in two major approaches. The classical study is based on clarification of the reaction mechanism and derivation of the kinetics from the mechanism. This method, if successful, can supply valuable information, by connecting experimental results to basic information about fundamental steps. During the study of reaction mechanisms many considerations are involved. The first of these is thermodynamics, not only for overall reactions, but also on so-called elementary steps. 

The UCKRON AND VEKRON kinetics are not models for methanol synthesis. These test problems represent assumed four and six elementary step mechanisms, which are thermodynamically consistent and for which the rate expression could be expressed by rigorous analytical solution and without the assumption of rate limiting steps. The exact solution was more important for the test problems in engineering, than it was to match the presently preferred theory on mechanism. 

Akiyama, S. IC, and Hamme.s, G. G., 1980. Elementary. step.s in die reaction mechani.sm of die pyruvate dehydrogena.se mnltienzyme complex from Escherichia coli Kinetics of acetylation and deacetylation. Biochemistry 19 4208-4213. 

The most widely accepted mechanism of reaction is shown in the catalytic cycle (Scheme 1.4.3). The overall reaction can be broken down into three elementary steps the oxidation step (Step A), the first C-O bond forming step (Step B), and the second C-O bond forming step (Step C). Step A is the rate-determining step kinetic studies show that the reaction is first order in both catalyst and oxidant, and zero order in olefin. The rate of reaction is directly affected by choice of oxidant, catalyst loadings, and the presence of additives such as A -oxides. Under certain conditions, A -oxides have been shown to increase the rate of reaction by acting as phase transfer catalysts. ... 

In order to anticipate possible modes of regulation of cytoskeleton dynamics in vivo, it is necessary (a) to identify the kinetic intermediates involved in the polymerization process and to characterize their structural and functional properties and (b) to define the essential elementary steps in the hydrolysis process. 

Vynckier, E., and Froment, G. F., Modeling of the kinetics of complex processes based upon elementary steps , in Kinetic and Thermodynamic Lumping of Multicomponent Mixtures (G. Astaiita and S. I. Sandler, Eds.) Elsevier, Amsterdam (1991) 131-161. 

The kinetic parameters are listed in Table 1. The linearity of lnAr l/r plot is revealed by the correlation coefficient. For all reactions but the deactivation, the rate constants follow the Arrhenius law satisfactorily, implying catalyst deactivation may involve more than one elementary steps. 

As mentioned above, almost all reactions of practical interest consist of more than one elementary step. The question is then how the kinetics of the elementary steps add up to those of the overall process. Let us consider a two-step reaction, written in generalized form... 

Unraveling catalytic mechanisms in terms of elementary reactions and determining the kinetic parameters of such steps is at the heart of understanding catalytic reactions at the molecular level. As explained in Chapters 1 and 2, catalysis is a cyclic event that consists of elementary reaction steps. Hence, to determine the kinetics of a catalytic reaction mechanism, we need the kinetic parameters of these individual reaction steps. Unfortunately, these are rarely available. Here we discuss how sticking coefficients, activation energies and pre-exponential factors can be determined for elementary steps as adsorption, desorption, dissociation and recombination. 

Once the kinetic parameters of elementary steps, as well as thermodynamic quantities such as heats of adsorption (Chapter 6), are available one can construct a micro-kinetic model to describe the overall reaction. Otherwise, one has to rely on fitting a rate expression that is based on an assumed reaction mechanism. Examples of both cases are discussed this chapter. 

Based on surface science and methods such as TPD, most of the kinetic parameters of the elementary steps that constitute a catalytic process can be obtained. However, short-lived intermediates cannot be studied spectroscopically, and then one has to rely on either computational chemistry or estimated parameters. Alternatively, one can try to derive kinetic parameters by fitting kinetic models to overall rates, as demonstrated below. 

D.A. Rudd, L.A. Apuvicio, J.E. Bekoske and A.A. Trevino, The Microkinetics of Heterogeneous Catalysis (1993), American Chemical Society, Washington DC]. Ideally, as many parameters as can be determined by surface science studies of adsorption and of elementary steps, as well as results from computational studies, are used as the input in a kinetic model, so that fitting of parameters, as employed in Section 7.2, can be avoided. We shall use the synthesis of ammonia as a worked example [P. Stoltze and J.K. Norskov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 55 (1985) 2502 J. Catal. 110 (1988) Ij. 

The elementary steps in the kinetic model for ammonia synthesis are ... 

Finally, the constructed micro-kinetic model must of course be tested against measurements performed with real catalysts. Figure 7.23 shows a plot of the calculated output from the reactor against experimental values. Apparently, the micro-kinetic model describes the situation very well. This does not prove that the model is correct since models based on another series of elementary steps might also work. 

A micro-kinetic model based on 13 elementary steps, of which the first 8 relate to the water-gas shift reaction, describes the process well ... 

Table 10.4 lists the rate parameters for the elementary steps of the CO + NO reaction in the limit of zero coverage. Parameters such as those listed in Tab. 10.4 form the highly desirable input for modeling overall reaction mechanisms. In addition, elementary rate parameters can be compared to calculations on the basis of the theories outlined in Chapters 3 and 6. In this way the kinetic parameters of elementary reaction steps provide, through spectroscopy and computational chemistry, a link between the intramolecular properties of adsorbed reactants and their reactivity Statistical thermodynamics furnishes the theoretical framework to describe how equilibrium constants and reaction rate constants depend on the partition functions of vibration and rotation. Thus, spectroscopy studies of adsorbed reactants and intermediates provide the input for computing equilibrium constants, while calculations on the transition states of reaction pathways, starting from structurally, electronically and vibrationally well-characterized ground states, enable the prediction of kinetic parameters. 

Table 10.4. Kinetic parameters of the elementary steps involved in the NO + CO reaction.

The SCR catalyst is considerably more complex than, for example, the metal catalysts we discussed earlier. Also, it is very difficult to perform surface science studies on these oxide surfaces. The nature of the active sites in the SCR catalyst has been probed by temperature-programmed desorption of NO and NH3 and by in situ infrared studies. This has led to a set of kinetic parameters (Tab. 10.7) that can describe NO conversion and NH3 slip (Fig. 10.16). The model gives a good fit to the experimental data over a wide range, is based on the physical reality of the SCR catalyst and its interactions with the reacting gases and is, therefore, preferable to a simple power rate law in which catalysis happens in a black box . Nevertheless, several questions remain unanswered, such as what are the elementary steps and what do the active site looks like on the atomic scale ... 

Explain how the kinetic parameters of an elementary step can be derived from temperature-programmed experiments with surfaces on which the reacting species have been preadsorbed. 

Steady-state approximation. Fractional reaction orders may be obtained from kinetic data for complex reactions consisting of elementary steps, although none of these steps are of fractional order. The same applies to reactions taking place on a solid catalyst. The steady-state approximation is very useful for the analysis of the kinetics of such reactions and is illustrated by Example 5.4.2.2a for a solid-catalysed reaction. 

The very basis of the kinetic model is the reaction network, i.e. the stoichiometry of the system. Identification of the reaction network for complex systems may require extensive laboratory investigation. Although complex stoichiometric models, describing elementary steps in detail, are the most appropriate for kinetic modelling, the development of such models is time-consuming and may prove uneconomical. Moreover, in fine chemicals manufacture, very often some components cannot be analysed or not with sufficient accuracy. In most cases, only data for key reactants, major products and some by-products are available. Some components of the reaction mixture must be lumped into pseudocomponents, sometimes with an ill-defined chemical formula. Obviously, methods are needed that allow the development of simple... 

It is apparent from the last example cited in previous section that there is not necessarily a connection between the kinetic order and the overall stoichiometry of the reaction. This may be understood more clearly if it is appreciated that any chemical reaction must go through a series of reaction steps. The addition of these elementary steps must give rise to the overall reaction. The reaction kinetics, however, reflects the slowest step or steps in the sequence. An overall reaction is taken as for an example ... 

This section contains a brief survey of NMR spectroscopic investigations of chemical reaction kinetics and mechanisms. One of the goals of reaction kinetics studies is to measure the rate of the reaction (or rate constant) - the rate at which the reactants are transformed into the products. Another goal is to determine the elementary steps that constitute a multi-step reaction. Finally, and perhaps the most important goal is to identify transitory intermediate species. NMR, in common with other spectroscopic techniques, is especially valuable in achieving this... 

Baek, H.K. and van Wart, H.E., Elementary steps in the reaction of horseradish peroxidase with several peroxides kinetics and thermodynamics of formation of compound 0 and compound I, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 114, 718-725, 1992. 

Alternative mechanisms have been recently proposed [78,79] based on a kinetic investigation of NO reduction by n-octane under isothermal (200°C) and steady-state conditions in the presence of H2. The authors built up a mathematical model based on supposed reaction pathways, which account for molecular adsorption of NO and CO and dissociative ones for H2 and 02. The elementary steps, which have been considered for modelling their results are reported in Table 10.3. Interesting kinetic information can be provided by the examination of this mechanism scheme in particular the fast bimolecular... 

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