KINETIC STUDY OF THE ISOMERIZATION OF n-BUTENES ON CHROMIA–ALUMINA

Abstract

Mutual interconversions of the three n-butenes on a chromia–alumina catalyst have been studied in a temperature range between 210 and 260 °C and in a pressure range from about 10 to about 100 mm. Dependence of initial rates on the initial pressures of the reactants was determined experimentally. The initial rates of isomerization could be, in each case, expressed empirically by a rate equation conforming to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood formula. It was possible to explain the experimental results by assuming the existence of three different adsorbed species for the three n-butene isomers and their surface interconversions as the rate-determining step.