The hydrogenation of ethylbenzene to ethylcyclohexane over a nickel mordenite catalyst IS...

The hydrogenation of ethylbenzene to ethylcyclohexane over a nickel mordenite catalyst IS zero order in both reactants up to an ethylbenzene con• version of 75% [Ind. Eng. Chern. Res., 28 (3), 260 (1989)]. At 553 K k = 58 mol ethylbenzene[dm3 of catalyst• h). When a 100 ppm thiophene concentration entered the system, the ethylbenzene conversion began to drop.

The reaction was carried Qut at 3 MPa and a molar ratio of H2/ETB = 10.

Discuss the catalyst decay. Be quantitative where possible.