Hydrogenolysis of n-Hexadecane on iron and its inhibition by carbon monoxide

The hydrogenolysis of normal hexadecane was studied over iron at 325° and 355°C. As expected with iron catalysts, the main product was methane, but the selectivities for intermediate alkanes were moderately large, probably due to the length of the carbon chain. Furthermore, gas chromatography—mass spectrometry analysis of the heavier products indicated the presence of alkylbenzenes, alkenes and branched alkanes which accounted for about 20 mole % of the C₉–C₁₃ hydrocarbons. When 5.7 mole % of carbon monoxide was added to the feed, hydrogenolysis reactions were inhibited and products similar to those in the Fischer—Tropsch synthesis were found. Therefore, CO acts like a poison for the hydrogenolysis of hydrocarbons.