Effect of Humidity on Carbon Monoxide Desorption Kinetics

Abstract

The kinetics of carbon monoxide desorption on a platinum catalyst under humidified conditions were investigated with the steady state isotropic transient kinetic analysis (SSITKA) method. The effect of the humidity level on desorption kinetics was quantified. The carbon monoxide (CO) desorption kinetic constant was calculated regardless of the gas flow rate. The kinetic constant dropped up to 58% with the increasing relative humidity. The negative effect of humidity in terms of CO poisoning for PEM fuel cells was determined.