563.    CHUFAROV, G. I., AND ANTONOVA, M. F.  [Retardation of the Beil Reaction 2 CO = C + CO2.]  Bull. Acad. Sci. U.R.S.S., Classe Sci. Tech., 1947, pp. 381-389 (in Russian); Chem. Abs., vol. 42, 1948, p. 3648.

      Decomposition of CO by the Bell reaction on an Fe catalyst is a 1^st-order reaction over a pressure range 2-200 mm. CO and a temperature range 350°-750°, and obeys the equation –dp/dt=kp, where p is the pressure of CO.  Over a temperature range of 350°-450°, the reaction rate changes according to the Arrhenius equation v=Ac-E/RT, where E, the activation energy, is 34,000 cal. per mol.  The addition of CuSO₄, Al₂(SO₄)₃, or MnSO₄ to the Fe catalyst causes a marked retardation of the reaction at a temperature around 450°, 5% of CuSO₄ or Al₂(SO₄)₃ completely inhibiting the reaction.  The retardation is less pronounced at higher temperatures, but the effect is still large; at 650°-750°, 5% CuSO₄ retards the reaction by a factor of 40, whereas 5% Al₂(SO₄)₃ retards it by a factor of 12.  More stable sulfates, Na₂SO₄, MgSO₄, and CaSO₄, are less effective in retarding the reaction.  The inhibiting effect is caused by poisoning of the catalyst by the S-containing decomposition products of the sulfates, principally SO₂.