Hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids to unsaturated fatty alcohols: I. Study of Cu and Cd oleates as catalysts

The catalyst system containing copper and cadmium oleates as used in selective hydrogenations was analyzed. The reddish brown reaction mixture as such and after precipitation by alcohol was subjected to polarographic, spectroscopic, x-ray and electron-microscopic analysis. The conclusion drawn was that the mixture is a heterogeneous system. From an electron micrograph it was observed that the average particle size is 48 Å. It was also possible to determine the mean degree of oxidation of copper in the precipitate, the results indicating that the copper is in its metallic state. Cadmium is present as cadmiumoleate, which stabilizes the copper colloid during the reaction.