On the poisoning effect of deuterium exchange reactions

The self-poisoning effect of deuterium exchange reactions of C1−C6 straight chain aliphatic hydrocarbons as well as hydrogenolysis and dehydrocyclization of n-hexane in the presence of deuterium on a nickel powder catalyst has been investigated. The poisoning is enhanced with increasing carbon number. The results can be correlated to the ease of dissociative adsorption, i. e. to the formation of multiply bonded species. A tentative model is proposed to explain the “decrease” of deuterium exchange in n-hexane when the reaction is shifted towards hydrogenolysis and benzene formation. It is shown that at elevated temperatures the poisoning upon deuterium exchange is caused not only by blocking of the active sites with deposits but also by hindrance of desorption of the starting molecules in the original/exchanged form.