Pressure Dependence of Hydrogenolysis of Propane over Supported Ruthenium

Abstract

<p> The hydrogenolysis of propane over 0.5 weight percent ruthenium supported on (see symbol in text)-alumina in a continuous stirred-tank catalytic reactor was studied at various pressures and temperatures. </p> <p> The reaction orders with respect to propane and hydrogen and the activation energies were examined at various pressures. A mechanism was proposed and a Hougen-Watson type of rate expression was obtained from the analysis of the proposed mechanism. </p> <p> The product distributions were studied at various pressures and temperatures. A reaction network involving reversible adsorption-desorption of the hydrocarbons and irreversible rupture of the carbon-carbon bonds in the surface species was applied to the experimental data. </p> <p> The proposed mechanism was consistent with the data for kinetics and selectivity. </p>