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Title: Dynamic and LHHW kinetic analysis of heterogeneous catalytic hydroformylation

Journal Article · · Journal of Catalysis
;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Akron, OH (United States)

Heterogeneous ethylene hydroformylation on a 4 wt% Rh/SiO{sub 2} catalyst was studied using a steady-state pulse transient method coupled with in situ infrared spectroscopy. Four independent quantities, including the rates of propionaldehyde and ethane formation and the surface coverages of adsorbed CO and adsorbed acyl species, were measured at steady state as a function of the partial pressures of the reactants. The coverage of intermediates during ethylene hydroformylation was determined from the dynamic response of C{sub 2}H{sub 5}{sup 13}CHO to a {sup 13}CO pulse input. The coverage of adsorbed CO was measured by in situ IR spectroscopy. The rate laws for C{sub 2}H{sub 5}CHO and C{sub 2}H{sub 6} formation and the isotherm equations for adsorbed C{sub 2}H{sub 5}CO and adsorbed CO were derived using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) approach from a proposed mechanism with the hydrogenation of adsorbed C{sub 2}H{sub 5}CO as the rate-determining step for propionaldehyde formation and the hydrogenation of adsorbed C{sub 2}H{sub 5} as the rate-determining step for ethane formation. The high degree of fitting of rate and coverage data to the derived rate law and isotherm equations suggests that the LHHW model describes the surface reaction with high accuracy. Although the assumptions for the Langmuir isotherm do not account for the interactions between adsorbates, the LHHW equations and the proposed mechanism satisfactorily describe the kinetics, reaction pathways, and rate-limiting steps for the formation of ethane and propionaldehyde. This study demonstrates that the measurement of coverage of adsorbates by isotopic tracer pulsing and in situ infrared spectroscopy provides direct experimental evidence to confirm a postulated mechanism and rate law. 46 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.

OSTI ID:
175712
Journal Information:
Journal of Catalysis, Vol. 151, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Feb 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English