Continuous Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Decalin under Mild Conditions

Abstract

Efficient hydrogen evolution from decalin by heating at moderate temperatures (200-300°C) was attempted in a continuous dehydrogenation reactor with use of "superheated-liquid-film type catalysis." The effect of decalin flow rates on the catalyst layer temperature, the decalin conversions and the hydrogen evolution rates was examined experimentally and following results were obtained. The catalyst layer temperature changed from the superheated state to the boiling point of decalin with increasing of the decalin flow rates. The decalin conversions in the superheated state were higher than that in the equilibrium state and decreased as the decalin flow rates increased. On the other hand, the hydrogen evolution rates had a maximum value under the experimental conditions of flow rates adopted. It was also found that the ratio of retention volume of decalin in the catalyst layer to whole amount of catalyst was an important index to represent the state of catalysis layer.