Continuous Addition Kinetic Elucidation: Catalyst and Reactant Order, Rate Constant, and Poisoning from a Single Experiment

Kinetic analysis of catalytic reactions is a powerful tool for mechanistic elucidation but is often challenging to perform. Establishing order in a catalyst is achieved by running several reactions at different loadings, which is complicated by the challenge of maintaining consistent run-to-run experimental conditions. We present Continuous Addition Kinetic Elucidation (CAKE), which involves steadily injecting catalyst into the reaction, and following reaction progress over time to generate a plot whose shape is dependent only on the order in reactant and in catalyst. Modelling the curve (using a convenient web tool) allows the catalyst and reactant order to be determined, as well as the rate constant and the amount of any catalyst poison present.