HYSTERESIS OF CATALYTIC ACTIVITY IN HYDROGENATION OF ETHYLENE ON Ni/AI₂O₃

Abstract

Hysteresis of catalytic activity was observed in the hydrogenation of ethylene on M/AI₂O₃. This is not due to the coupling of mass and heat transfer with intrinsic catalytic rate, but due to reversible and irreversible deactivation (carbon formation) and regeneration. Deactivation predominates at higher temperature, regeneration at lower temperature. This reversible deactivation and regeneration may also cause oscillatory behavior.