An apparatus is described to investigate the synthesis of phosgene from the reaction of carbon monoxide and dichlorine over an[url=www.wyactivatedcarbon.com/]wanyang carbon[/url] activated carbon catalyst. Infrared spectroscopy and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy are used to identify and quantify reagents and products. The reaction is operated with an excess of CO in order to enable complete chlorine conversion at elevated temperatures. The reaction profile is examined over the temperature range of 300−445 K, with a phosgene selectivity of 100 % observed at all temperatures. An isosbestic point in the UV–vis spectrum is observed at 272 nm, indicating that the dichlorine and the phosgene are in equilibrium. Examination of the phosgene formation rate as a function of space time and catalyst size fraction at 323 K establishes that, under the described conditions, the reaction is operating under chemical control in the absence of mass transfer restrictions.[url=www.wyactivatedcarbon.com/products/other-activated-carbon/honeycomb-activated-carbon.html]silver activated carbon[/url]