Kinetic Study of Catalytic Hydrogenation of Thiophene on a Palladium Sulfide Catalyst

The kinetics of thiophene hydrogenation on a palladium sulfide catalyst is studied at high hydrogen pressures. The reaction mainly occurs via the consecutive scheme: the reaction of thiophene with hydrogen results in the formation of tetrahydrothiophene, which partially decomposes under the action of hydrogen to yield butane and hydrogen sulfide. A kinetic model describing the reaction rates and the selectivity to tetrahydrothiophene at 0.2–3.0 MPa and 493–533 K is proposed. The rate constants and activation energies are determined. The effect of temperature and pressure on the maximal yield of tetrahydrothiophene is examined.