Hydrogenolysis

Name:
Hydrogenolysis
Detailed information:
(destructive hydrogenation). A type of hydrogenation reaction in which molecular cleavage of an organic compound occurs with addition of hydrogen to each portion. An important application is hydrocracking (hydrogenative splitting) of large organic molecules, with formation of fragments that react with hydrogen by use of catalysts and high temperatures. Hydrogenolysis of coal to gaseous and liquid fuels was used in Germany in the 1940s; a similar method (Oil/Gas Process) is under development in the U.S. The German process used pulverized coal made into a paste with heavy oil and a metallic catalyst. The mixture plus the necessary hydrogen was subjected to 300–700 atm at approximately 500C. The coal was converted into heavy oil, distillable oil, gasoline, and hydrocarbon gases. Large quantities of hydrogen are necessary.See Gasification; Hydrogenation.