Low temperature parahydrogen enrichment catalysed by paramagnetic ions supported on rutile

Abstract

Transition metal and lanthanoid ions supported on rutile have been used as catalysts for parahydrogen enrichment at 77 and 90 K. Activities, expressed in molecule ion-' s-', varied with the square of the magnetic moment of the cation. The results are explained by Wigner's theory extended to cover conversion proceeding during vibrational motion in the physically adsorbed state.