Studies of the Kinetics of Two Parallel Reactions: Ammonia Decomposition and Nitriding of Iron Catalyst

The reaction of ammonia decomposition and nitriding reaction as an example of the parallel reactions were studied. A surface reaction was assumed as the rate limiting step. The experiments were carried out in the range of temperatures from 623 to 723 K. Mixtures of different iron nitrides (gamma'-Fe4N, epsilon-Fe3-2N) were obtained. Differential tubular reactor with thermogravimetric (TG) measurement and analysis of the gas phase composition in the reaction volume was used. Reacting gases flowing through the reactor were mixed. Effective reactor volume was determined. The rate constants for ammonia decomposition and ammonia adsorption process at critical point between alpha-Fe and gamma'-Fe4N phases were estimated. The number of collisions and the sticking coefficient of ammonia over alpha-Fe phase were also assessed.