CH sub 3 NO sub 2 addition to CO hydrogenation over a Ru/KY catalyst

CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2} addition to CO hydrogenation over Ru/KY led to the formation of partially dehydrogenated CH{sub x} groups, which became indistinguishable from CH{sub x} groups derived from CO hydrogenation. Random reaction of these groups provided hydrocarbon formation along the same reaction pathway that normally occurs during CO hydrogenation over Ru/KY. The additional CH{sub x} groups from CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2} enhanced the rates of chain initiation and propagation to similar extents, leading to increases in the rates of formation of C{sub 2}{sup +} hydrocarbons. Some of these CH{sub x} groups were further dehydrogenated and formed surface carbon, resulting in the incorporation of some carbon from CH{sub 3}NO{sub 2} into CO{sub 2}, an increase in the rate of catalyst deactivation, and suppression of secondary reactions on the support.