Performance of Cu-promoted Pd catalysts prepared by adding Cu using a surface redox method in acetylene hydrogenation

Cu-promoted Pd/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by selectively depositing Cu onto the Pd surface using a surface redox (SR) method, and their performance in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene was compared with that of Ag-promoted catalysts prepared by both the SR and the conventional impregnation method. The Cu-promoted catalysts prepared by SR showed higher ethylene selectivity and activity than Ag-promoted catalysts, particularly with small amounts of added promoter. The above results were obtained because Cu added by SR was deposited preferentially onto the low-coordination sites of Pd, which were detrimental to ethylene selectivity but took a small fraction of the Pd surface that was responsible for acetylene conversion, and also because Cu had an intrinsic activity for hydrogenation. The advantages of Cu-promoted catalysts prepared using Cu as a promoter and the SR process as the promoter-addition method were conclusively demonstrated in the present study.

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► Cu was selectively deposited onto Pd using a surface redox method.
► Cu was deposited particularly on the low-coordination sites of Pd.
► Added Cu promoted the ethylene selectivity of Pd in acetylene hydrogenation.
► Activity for acetylene hydrogenation was higher for Pd–Cu than for Pd–Ag.