Investigation of the poisoning of platinum group catalysts by thermal desorption. Part 2.—Mercury poisoning of benzene hydrogenation on palladium

Abstract

The poisoning by mercury of a palladium catalyst for the hydrogenation of benzene has been investigated by thermal desorption. Adsorption of mercury leads to alloy formation before the catalyst is completely poisoned for the reaction. The mechanism of poisoning is consistent with a homogeneous catalyst surface which is blocked geometrically by the poison. Initially the blocking is random, then patches of alloy are formed at higher coverages of poison and the poisoning becomes less efficient.