Catalytic hydrocondensation of carbon monoxide with olefins and the hydropolymerization of the latter under the action of carbon monoxide and hydrogen

Abstract

1. When a ternary mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and an olefin (C2-C4) is passed at 200° and atmospheric pressure over a nickel catalyst for the synthesis of hydrocarbons from CO and H2, the main reaction is the hydrogenation of the olefin. The yields of liquid hydrocarbons are lower than in absence of olefin: the olefin does not take any part in the formation of these hydrocarbons. 2. When the olefin alone and the 1CO + 2H2 mixture are passed alternately over the catalyst, the yields of liquid hydrocarbons are considerably greater than those obtained from the 1CO + 2H2 mixture. This is due to the participation of the olefin in the synthesis as a result of the interaction of its molecules with surface products of the incomplete reduction of CO, which have the character of radicals. 3. The specificity of a nickel catalyst, as compared with a cobalt catalyst, is to be explained by the difference in the adsorption properties of the components of the reacting mixture.