Liquid-phase dehydrogenation of 2-propanol by suspended nickel fine-particle catalyst.

Nickel fine particles that were prepared by a gas evaporation method were used to catalyze the liquid phase dehydrogenation of 2-propanol efficiently in the suspended state. Rate retardation due to the product acetone without catalytic-site deactivation was confirmed kinetically. High reaction rates were attained under the boiling conditions and a reasonable activation energy as well as adsorption heat of acetone was obtained. A useful application of the present catalytic process is proposed.