The catalytic oxidation of ethylene on palladium films

Abstract
The oxidation of ethylene has been studied on evaporated films of palladium in the temperature range 50 to 140 °C, and products were analyzed by means of a mass spectrometer. The main reaction was complete oxidation to carbon dioxide and water, but trace amounts of acetic anhydride and acetic acid were formed by a side reaction. Kinetic studies showed that the reaction was zero order with respect to the pressure of oxygen, first order in ethylene at low pressures but zero order at high pressures, and progressively poisoned by the two minor products. The activation energy associated with the initial rate of reaction was 14 kcal/mole. A number of subsidiary experiments were carried out including the oxidation of acetaldehyde at 77 °C which occurred rapidly producing acetic anhydride and some acetic acid. A reaction scheme was developed which accounted for the detailed kinetic behaviour of the oxidation of ethylene and possible mechanisms are discussed

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