A series of K-promoted Pt/Al2O3 catalysts were tested for CO oxidation. It was found that the addition of K significantly enhanced the activity. A detailed kinetic study showed that the activation energies of the K-containing catalysts were lower than those of the K-free ones, particularly for catalysts with high Pt contents （51.6 k）/mol for 0.42K-2.0Pt/Al2O3 and 6：3.6 kJ/mol for 2.0Pt/Al2O3 ）. The CO reaction orders were higher for the K-containing catalysts （about -0.2） than for the K-free ones （about -0.5）, with the former having much lower equilibrium constants for CO adsorption than the latter. In situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed that surface CO desorption from the 0.42K-2.0Pt/Al2O3 catalyst was easier than from 2.0Pt/Al2O3. The promoting effect of K was therefore caused by weakening of the interactions between CO and surface Pt atoms. This decreased coverage of the catalyst with CO and facilitated competitive O2 chemisorption on the Pt surface, and significantly lowered the reaction barrier between chemisorbed CO and O2 species.
