KINETICS OF THE LIQUID-PHASE HYDROGENATIO N OF CITRONELLOL OVER RANEY-NICKEL CATALYST

Kinetics studies on the liquid phase hydrogenation of citronellol over Raney-nickel catalyst were performed in cyclohexane and in 2-propanol . In both solvents, the initial rate of disappearance of citronellol m easured al different citronellol concentrations and at constant hydrog en pressure passed through a maximum, demonstrating that hydrogen and the organic compounds are adsorbed competitively at the surface. Integ ration of the rate equation derived on the basis of the Langmuir-Hinsh elwood mechanism was performed analytically and numerically by the Run ge Kutta method. The agreement between the calculated citronellol conc entration as a function of Lime and the experimental data was excellen t. The adsorption equilibrium constants of citronellol and 3,7-dimethy l octanol were estimated as well as the rate constants : k.