Pd/Ga2O3–Al2O3 catalysts for the selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene

The structure of Ga2O3–Al2O3 supports and Pd/Ga2O3–Al2O3 catalysts and the performance of these catalysts in liquid-phase acetylene hydrogenation have been investigated. The deposition of Ga(NO3)3 onto Al2O3 by impregnation followed by calcination of the impregnated support at 600°C yields γ-Ga2O3–Al2O3 solid solutions containing up to 50 wt % Ga2O3. X-ray diffraction characterization of model palladium catalysts and their temperature-programmed reduction with hydrogen have demonstrated that, while palladium in Pd/Ga2O3 is in the form of a Pd2Ga alloy, in the Pd/γ-Ga2O3–Al2O3 catalyst there is no direct interaction between PdО and Ga2O3 particles and palladium is in the monometallic state. The introduction of 10–20 wt % gallium oxide into Al2O3 lowers the activity of the supported palladium catalyst relative to that of the initial Pd/Al2O3 but increases the ethylene yield by enhancing the ethylene formation selectivity.