Isomerization of n-butene on cobalt oxide: The effect and role of hydrogen

• Published in: Journal of catalysis 1974-01, Vol.32 (3), p.376-383
• Main Authors: Fukushima, Takakazu, Ozaki, Atsumu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0021-9517; 1090-2694
• DOI: 10.1016/0021-9517(74)90089-X

Isomerization of n-butene over a dehydrated surface of cobalt oxide has been studied for the effect of hydrogen. The prechemisorbed hydrogen remarkably enhances the isomerization in the initial period of the run, while the rate is rapidly decreased to a steady value with the reaction time. In conformity with this, the prechemisorbed deuterium appears in the product. The isomerization is also enhanced by the presence of gas-phase hydrogen. The rate is linear to the partial pressure of hydrogen. The C 2H 4 C 2D 4 exchange reaction is similarly accelerated by hydrogen. The reaction of butene with D 2 produces minor amounts of butene- d 1, butane- d 1, and HD in addition to larger amounts of butane- d 2, whereas the H 2D 2 exchange reaction is remarkably suppressed by the presence of butene. The formations of d 1-species are explained in terms of alkyl intermediate, suggesting that there are two different pathways of hydrogenation, one forming butane- d 2 and the other butane- d 1 in the deuterogenation of butene.