Hydrogenation of methylacetylene. III. The reaction of methylacetylene with hydrogen catalyzed by nickel, copper, and their alloys

Abstract

The reaction between methylacetylene and hydrogen over unsupported nickel, copper, and their alloys has been investigated in a static constant volume system between 20 and 220 °C for a wide range of reactant ratios. The order of reaction with respect to hydrogen was one and nearly independent of temperature. While the order of reaction with respect to methylacetylene over nickel catalyst was slightly negative and temperature dependent, it was always positive and nearly independent of temperature for copper and copper-rich alloys. Selectivity was independent of initial hydrogen pressure for nickel and copper only; for others it decreased rapidly with increasing hydrogen pressure. The overall activation energy varied between 9 and 21.2 kcal/g mole. Selectivity and extent of polymerization increased with increasing amount of copper in the alloy.