Selective hydrogenation of ethyne on γ-Mo₂N

Hydrogenation of ethyne on γ-Mo₂N was investigated using a fixed-bed continuous flow micro-reactor. 95% of ethyne conversion and 80% of ethene selectivity were obtained at 150 °C and 3 000 h^-1. The distribution of the products remained almost unchanged with varying reaction temperature and space velocity. These results are different from that obtained on Pd/Al₂O₃. Under the similar reaction conditions the main product is ethane and the distribution of the products varies with the reaction temperature and space velocity over Pd/Al₂O₃. The results were explained by Bond model, and firmly held hydrocarbon adspecies may be responsible for the high selectivity for ethene.