Study on selective hydrogenation of ethyl ester of unsaturated fatty acids over copper-chromium oxide-catalyst and the rate influenced by various reaction conditions under high pressures

Abstract

Selectivity between linoleic and oleic acids in pressurized hydrogenation with copperchromium oxide catalyst was found to be satisfactory, though oleic acid is saturated in a small rate at 180°. Several factors involved were examined at constant pressures to obtain an overall view. Pressure effect was of approximately Freundlich type, zero-order kinetics with respect to concentration of linoleic acid is held still under 40 kg/cm2, with activation energy of 15 kcal/mole averaged for 1 and 40 kg/cm2 hydrogenations, while an upper limitation to hydrogenation rate with increase in the amount of catalyst was less acute than was found at one atmospheric pressure, and stirring effect was markedly lowered as pressure rose.