Hydrogenation of various ketones on nickel boride catalyst

Abstract

Kinetic studies on the liquid-phase hydrogenation of various ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl n-propyl ketone and methyl isobuthyl ketone) over nickel boride catalyst were performed. Adsorption measurements of hydrogen in the course of the reactions were also undertaken. The experimental results were successfully interpreted on the basis of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism with the assumption that the catalyst surface is fully covered with the adsorbed species of hydrogen and ketone during the reaction. The rate constant and the adsorption strength of ketone were found to become larger with increasing number of alkyl carbon atoms