I would appreciate any input/bibliography to understand the fundamentals behind this experimental result:

I am comparing a catalyst with several catalytic sites with other that has only one. In both cases the reaction rate is dependent on the concentration of the catalyst, but whereas the former (i.e. several catalytic sites) show a linear relationship, the former (a single catalytic site) reach maximum concentration of catalyst beyond which the reaction rate does not improve any more. However, the reaction rate of the several catalytic sites catalyst is much larger than that of the single catalytic site catalyst.

What I interpret is:

  • The relationship between the concentration of catalyst and reaction rate suggests that the formation of the catalyst-substrate complex is much faster than the reaction and/or release of product to regenerate the catalyst, the amount of catalyst being the limiting step
  • The existence of the a concentration of catalyst beyond which there is no improvement in the reaction rate means that the limiting step is not the catalyst.
  • The several catalytic sites catalyst is more efficient (values of reaction rate normalized by number of catalytic sites) but, what is happening in the catalyst to rationalize that the concentration of catalyst does not reach a plateau but keep increasing with the concentration of catalyst ?
  • Thank in advance for your help

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