The unique influence of the pressure of hydrogen and adsorbed water on the activity of an aluminoplatinum catalyst in the hydrogenolysis of methylcyclopentane

Abstract

1. The influence of hydrogen pressure and adsorbed water on the activity of a 0.3% Pt-Al2O3 catalyst in the hydrogenolysis of methylcyclopentane was investigated. 2. The activity of the catalyst decreases both with increasing hydrogen pressure from 2 to 49 atm in experiments with a catalyst containing adsorbed water, and when water is removed from the catalyst in experiments at a total pressure of 10 atm. 3. The activity of the catalysts increases both when the hydrogen pressure is increased from 9 to 49 atm in experiments with a catalyst freed of adsorbed water and when water is removed from the catalysts in experiments at a total pressure of 50 atm. 4. On the basis of the assumption of two mechanisms of the reaction, an explanation was suggested for the opposite changes in the activity of the catalyst with increasing hydrogen pressure or with the removal of water from the system.