Catalytic reaction between diethyl ether and hydrogen on evaporated nickel films

Abstract

The reaction between diethyl ether and hydrogen has been studied over evaporated films of nickel in the temperature region 220–270°C. Products were methane, ethane and carbon monoxide, and carbiding of the nickel also occurred. The kinetics of the reaction were discussed and we conclude that carbon monoxide competes with ether for the catalytically active sites but desorption of methane is probably the rate-controlling step. Subsidiary experiments carried out included the decomposition of ethanol, the exchange of diethyl ether with deuterium, the hydrogenation of nickel carbide, the hydrocracking of ethane and the hydrogenolysis of carbon monoxide to methane and water. The reactions of diethyl ether with hydrogen on various other metals are also briefly reported.