Attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy is a powerful tool to investigate reaction pathways in liquid(reactive)/solid(catalyst) systems. Catalysts are commonly deposited on an internal reflection elements (IRE) as layers of powders or as films (e.g. metal film), and they are exposed to the liquid phase reactants. To obtain quantitative information of intrinsic reaction rates, the chemical engineering aspects of an ATR flow-through cell must be evaluated. Particularly, mass transport in the ATR cell has to be characterized. We present here an analysis of the mass transfer from the flowing solution to the surface of the ATR crystal, where the catalyst is deposited. Criteria to determine kinetic parameters under chemical control were developed on the base of non-dimensional Peclet (Pe) and Sherwood (Sh) numbers, and Thiele modulus (phi(cl)). A Pt thin film deposited on a ZnSe IRE by vapor deposition and a layer of Pt/Al2O3 porous catalyst were used to study the adsorption of carbon monoxide and oxidation of preadsorbed carbon monoxide on aqueous phase. Experimental data of the evolution of the linearly adsorbed CO (2048 cm(-1)) were fitted using a microkinetic model to obtain reaction constants. Results reported here serve as a practical guide to quickly determine the operational limits of an ATR cell with a porous layer of catalyst deposited onto the IRE. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.