2915.     RUBINSHTEIN, A. M.  [Catalytic Hydrogenation in the Vapor Phase in Connection With the Degree of Dispersion of the Catalysts.]  Bull. acad. sci. U.R.S.S., Classe sci. chim., 1940, No. 1, pp. 144-150 (in German, pp. 150-151); Chem. Abs., vol. 35, 1941, p. 3512.

        Hydrogenation of C₆H₆ and CO in the presence of a Ni-Al₂O₃ catalyst in which the dimensions of the Ni crystals varied 40-102 Å. was investigated.  C₆H₆ was hydrogenated in an excess of H₂ at 155° and 175°, the velocity of the C₆H₆ stream was 3 cc. per hr., yielding 70.2-75.0% and 83.3-85.5%, respectively, C₆H₁₂.  The highest yield was in the more disperse catalyst.  The catalysts with Ni crystals greater than 65 Å. had little or no activity.  The activation energy also varied within 3,100-10,450 cal. per mol. with the dispersity of Ni 49-102 Å.  The mixture CO+3H₂ was hydrogenated at 230°-260° at various velocities of the mixture, 4.6-10.0 l. per hr., yielding CH₄; again the most disperse catalysts (49, 58 Å.) promoted best the transformation of CO into CH₄.  Other catalysts had little or no activity.  Presumably, all catalysts of the same chemical nature, metals, and oxides and having the same crystal system and cube as the above catalyst should have the same relation between activity and dispersity.