The desorption of 13 CO 2 from the surface of basic oxides based on modified MgO was examined at conditions of chemical equilibrium using a 13 CO 2 / 12 CO 2 isotopic switch method.
13CO 2 desorption rates increase with increasing concentration of 12 CO 2 in the gas phase and with increasing carrier gas flow rate, both during isotopic switch and transient temperature-programmed desorption of CO 2 . These effects are caused by a decrease in the probability of 13 CO 2 readsorption and not by faster desorption steps assisted by gas-phase 12 CO 2 . This isotopic switch method allows the determination of desorption rates and of the density of sites that can bind CO 2 reversibly at conditions typical of steady-state catalytic reactions. These measurements require, however, that we include in data analysis protocols any effects of readsorption processes.