HYDROGENOLYSIS OF N-PENTANE ON NICKEL CATALYST

The reaction of normal pentane and hydrogen on a nickel-silica gel catalyst was studied in a flow system under a hydrogen pressure of less than 50 atm. Under the range of temperatures studied (300-400 °C), the predominant reaction was the consecutive removal of terminal methyl groups as methane, and the formation of hydrocarbons containing one less carbon atom. The product distributions varied widely with both variation of the partial pressure of hydrogen and with the reaction temperature. At high partial pressures of hydrogen or low temperatures mainly butane and corresponding amounts of methane were produced. At low partial pressures of hydrogen or high temperatures the pentane was more extensively degraded. Velocity of pentane hydrogenolysis increased with partial pressure of pentane and was inversely proportional to partial pressure of H2. The results could be explained by the mechanism involving cracking of terminal carbon-carbon bonds of adsorbed hydrocarbon radicals. © 1969.