Kinetics of thiophene hydrogenolysis on a cobalt molybdate catalyst

The intrinsic kinetics of the hydrogenolysis of thiophene on a cobalt molybdate catalyst were studied in a differential reactor with recirculation, at a total pressure of about 1 atm. and temperatures of 235° to 265°C. Retardation of the reaction by both thiophene and hydrogen sulfide was significant and the rate of thiophene disappearance was correlated by a Langmuir‐Hinshelwood type of kinetic equation. Hydrogenation of the butene intermediate was inhibited by both butene and hydrogen sulfide and the rate of this reaction was also described with a Langmuir‐Hinshelwood rate equation. The forms of the kinetic expressions obtained imply that the butene is not hydrogenated at the original desulfurization site.