ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURE-SENSITIVITY IN REACTIONS OF ALKANES - N-BUTANE HYDROGENOLYSIS ON A RU AL2O3 CATALYST/

The rate of n-butane hydrogenolysis on 1% Ru/Al2O3, the response of th e rate to variation of H-2 pressure, and the product selectivities and their alteration with H-2 pressure, change with particle size and wit h the type of pretreatment used. The generality of particle size effec ts reported in the literature is rendered uncertain by these results; the predominant factor underlying them may be the strength of H-2 chem isorption.