A high performance multi-walled carbon nanotube-supported palladium catalyst in selective hydrogenation of acetylene-ethylene mixtures

In this research, a palladium nanocatalyst was synthesised over a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) support and then applied for selective hydrogenation of acetylene in an ethylene-richflow stream. This material displayed a very promising selectivity toward ethylene production with increasing temperature, and also suppressed oligomer formation during acetylene hydrogenation. New operating conditions for selective hydrogenation of acetylene in an ethylene-richflow were introduced. This nanocatalyst gave a considerably higher yield, as high as 93%, than that previously obtained for ethylene production. It was postulated that the governing mechanism for acetylene hydrogenation over 0.5 wt.% Pd/MWCNT was hydrogen transfer.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (107 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights► 0.5% pd/MWCNT displayed 93% ethylene yield in selective hydrogenation of acetylene. ► By temperature rising, ethylene selectivity and acetylene conversion were enhanced. ► At elevated temperatures, hydrogenation in tail-end process occurs in a single reactor. ► Suppressing of oligomers and displaying high stability are features of this catalyst. ► Hydrogen transfer mechanism plays an essential role over Pd/MWCNT catalyst.