139.    BALANDIN, A. A., AND MARUSHKIN, M. N.   [Formation of Olefins From Higher Paraffinic Hydrocarbons.]  Compt. rend. acad. sci., U.R.S.S., vol. 40, 1943, pp. 226-228, 254-257; Chem. Abs., vol. 39, 1945, p. 271.

                  Solid paraffin, m.  p. 50°, av. mol. wt. 554, was exposed, at 450°-550°, to the action of a dehydrogenating catalyst containing Cr (see Chem. Abs., vol. 37, 1943, p. 867).  Tabulated analyses of the reaction products indicate that 4 different reactions occurred:  (1) Dehydrogenation to form olefins without cracking; (2) formation of aromatic compounds without cracking, but with splitting off of H₂; (3) simple fission to form olefin and saturated hydrocarbons; (4) complete cracking to CH₄, C, and H₂.  Extent of these reactions was as follows:  At 450°, (1) 20%, (2) 2%, (3) 20%, (4) 4%; at 500°, (1) 36%, (3) 21%, (4) 5%.  At 550° the total yield of olefin was larger yet, but cracking also increased as indicated by the liquid character of the condensate and by halving the latter’s average molecular weight.