Non-steady-state and transient effects in medium-pressure hydrogenation of carbon monoxide over rhodium catalysts

Abstract

The non-steady state behaviour of six rhodium catalysts during carbon monoxide hydrogenation has been studied. In the non-steady state a hydrocarbonaceous material is deposited which acts as a hydrogen-transfer medium. This residue can be removed from the catalyst as C-1 species by hydrogenolysis. From experimental results we deduce that the formation of oxygenated products is slow; of the order of 0.5–1 h. By use of ESCA we conclude that there is no obvious relationship between the oxidation state of the rhodium and the selectivity to oxygenated products