PARTIAL HYDROGENATION OF BENZENE TO CYCLOHEXENE IN A CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED SLURRY REACTOR

A method has been developed for direct measurement of reaction rates i n a continuously operated slurry (CST-) reactor. In contrast to the us ual procedure in a two-liquid-phase system the reactor contains only o ne liquid phase, an aqueous zinc chloride solution in which a rutheniu m lanthanoxide catalyst is suspended. The selectivity of benzene hydro genation with respect to cyclohexene is higher when the new one-liquid -phase procedure is applied. With decreasing degree of benzene convers ion the selectivity with respect to cyclohexene approaches 100%. The c onclusion is that cyclohexane is formed only by consecutive hydrogenat ion of cyclohexene.