The effect of composition of cobalt-molybdenum catalysts on their surface acidity and isomerisation activity

Abstract

Kinetics of isomerisation of cyclohexene to methylcyclopentene proceeding as parallel reaction to hydrogenation of cyclohexene to cyclohexane on cobalt-molybdenum catalysts of different composition has been measured. The surface acidity of these catalysts was estimated from the difference in the adsorption of toluene and heptane which was measured by chromatographic method. In a series of catalysts containing molybdenum the acidity parallels isomerisation activity. Cobalt on alumina catalysts and alumina itself have greater acidity but exhibit lower isomerisation activity compared to the catalysts containing molybdenum.