HYDROFORMYLATION OF ETHYLENE OVER COBALT, NICKEL, MOLYBDENUM, COMO AND NIMO ALUMINA-SUPPORTED SULFIDE CATALYSTS

Vapour phase hydroformylation of ethylene was studied with alumina sup ported Co, Ni, Mo, CoMo and NiMo sulfide catalysts in a flow reactor w ith fixed bed at 513-563 K, 10 - 10(5) Pa of overall pressure in the p resence of H2S in the feed. With this reaction mixture three different kinds of reactions were observed, hydrogenation, hydroformylation and H2S addition. Nickel and cobalt catalysts presented the best hydrofor mylation activity. The addition of molybdenum enhanced the formation o f ethane and sulfur compounds but decreased the hydroformylation react ion. This last result is discussed in relation with the formation of a NiMoS or CoMoS phase.