Studies of the mechanism of thiophene hydrodesulfurization: 2H NMR and mass spectral analysis of 1,3-butadiene produced in the deuterodesulfurization (DDS) of thiophene over PbMo6S8 catalyst

John William Benson, G. L. Schrader, Robert J. Angelici

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

The deuterodesulfurization (DDS) of thiophene was investigated over PbMo6S8 at 400°C using a flow-microreactor. Evidence indicates that 1,3-butadiene (BDE) is the first desulfurized product; its deuterium content was established by 2H NMR and mass spectrometries. At different levels of thiophene conversion (0.86-10.2%), the amount of deuterium incorporated into BDE remains constant at 3.47 D atoms per BDE molecule. Unconverted thiophene incorporates 0.42 D atoms at 10.2% thiophene conversion but only 0.05 D atoms at 0.86% conversion. Reaction of 2,5-dihydrothiophene (2,5-DHT) with D2 at 400°C over PbMo6S8 liberates BDE as the only hydrocarbon product. This BDE incorporates no deuterium. Thiophene and H2S effectively inhibit both BDE hydrogenation and deuterium exchange. The results indicate that during the DDS process, a total of 3.2 deuterium atoms are incorporated into the BDE; 0.83 D are in the DA-position while 1.2 D are in each of the DB-and DC-positions. Several HDS mechanisms proposed in the literature are consistent with these results; two are not. Details of all of these mechanisms are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)283-299
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Molecular Catalysis. A, Chemical
Volume96
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 8 1995
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chevrel phase catalyst
  • Deuterium labelling
  • Hydrodesulphurization
  • Mechanisms
  • Thiophene

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Catalysis
  • Process Chemistry and Technology
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Studies of the mechanism of thiophene hydrodesulfurization: 2H NMR and mass spectral analysis of 1,3-butadiene produced in the deuterodesulfurization (DDS) of thiophene over PbMo6S8 catalyst'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this