Hydrogenation of acetylene over supported metal catalysts. Part 3.—[14C]tracer studies of the effects of added ethylene and carbon monoxide on the reaction catalysed by silica-supported palladium, rhodium and iridium

Abstract

The hydrogenation of acetylene in the presence of various pressures of [14C]ethylene has been studied over silica-supported palladium, rhodium and iridium catalysts. The results show that with each catalyst the yield of ethane from the hydrogenation of ethylene is small; the major route to ethane formation is by direct hydrogenation of acetylene. Three distinct types of surface site are involved in the hydrogenation of acetylene and ethylene.