INFLUENCE OF ETHYLENE ON THE HYDROGENATION OF CO OVER RUTHENIUM

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100411a018

The interactions of C2H4 with H2 and CO were investigated over a SiO2-supported Ru catalyst.To differentiate carbon sources, ¹³C-labeled CO and unlabeled C2H4 were used.Product analysis was carried out by isotope-ratio gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.In the absence of CO, C2H4 undergoes extensive hydrogenation.Small amounts of CH4 and C₃₊ olefins and paraffins are also observed, indicative of C2H4 hydrogenolysis and homologation.The presence of CO strongly suppresses C2H4 hydrogenolysis, but enhances C2H4 homologation.The hydrogenation of CO hydrocarbons is strongly influenced by the presence of C2H4.With increasing C2H4 partial pressure, the hydrogenation of CO to hydrocarbons is progressively suppressed, but the hydroformylation of C2H4 to form propanal (and some 1-propanol) is enhanced.The product distributions observed for the reactions of C2H4 and H2, and C2H4, CO, and H2, can be described in terms of a chain growth mechanism involving C1 and C2 monomer units.