Catalytic hydrogenation

Catalytic hydrogenation adds hydrogen to unsaturated compounds using a catalyst. It commonly converts alkenes into alkanes by adding one hydrogen atom to each carbon of a carbon–carbon double bond.

Heterogeneous catalysis: Catalysis in which the catalyst and reactants occupy different phases. Metal catalysts often form a solid surface where gaseous hydrogen and dissolved alkenes react.
Vegetable oil hydrogenation: The addition of hydrogen to unsaturated vegetable oils to alter their consistency and stability. This large-scale application converts some oil double bonds and can generate trans fats.
Homogeneous catalysis: Catalysis in which catalyst and reactants occupy the same phase. Soluble hydrogenation catalysts can offer molecular-level control unlike solid metal surfaces.
Paul Sabatier: A French chemist who pioneered catalytic hydrogenation using finely divided metals. His work established metal-catalyzed hydrogen addition as a practical chemical method.
Hydrogen dissociation: The separation of a hydrogen molecule into individual hydrogen atoms. Metal surfaces split H₂ into reactive atoms before transferring hydrogen to an adsorbed alkene.
Haber process: An industrial process that synthesizes ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen over an iron catalyst. It uses catalytic hydrogen activation, but combines hydrogen with nitrogen rather than an organic unsaturated bond.
Transfer hydrogenation: A reduction method that supplies hydrogen from a donor molecule instead of gaseous hydrogen. It achieves hydrogenation without directly feeding H₂ to the reaction.
Wilhelm Normann: A German chemist who patented the hardening of liquid fats by hydrogenation in 1902. His patent helped launch industrial oil hardening and its associated food applications.
Adsorption: The accumulation of atoms or molecules on a surface. Hydrogenation depends on reactants binding to catalyst sites close enough to react.
Hydrodesulfurization: A petroleum-refining process that removes sulfur compounds by reacting them with hydrogen over catalysts. It shows how hydrogen and catalysts also purify complex hydrocarbon feedstocks.

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