THE HYDROGENATION OF BENZENE OVER NICKEL-SUPPORTED Y-ZEOLITES .1. A KINETIC APPROACH

The kinetics of benzene hydrogenation were studied on a NiKY zeolite in the temperature range 403-523 K. The reaction orders with respect to benzene and hydrogen partial pressures are reported. Apparent activation energies of 59.5 kJ mol-1 in the temperature range 403-473 K and - 11.5 Kj mol-1 in the range of 473-523 K were determined. The effects of hydrogen partial pressure and temperature on the reaction rate are considered. The kinetic data generated are compared to those previously reported for catalysis over unsupported nickel and nickel supported on amorphous carriers as well as the existing limited data for zeolite systems. The appearance of well-defined maxima in the rate vs. temperature curves is also discussed.