Selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene in presence of 1-butene under liquid phase conditions with NiPd/Al2O3 catalysts

The catalytic performance of Al2O3-supported monometallic and bimetallic catalysts in selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene in the presence of 1-butene under liquid phase conditions was studied. Bimetallic catalysts were prepared by the coimpregnation method with the required amounts of the precursors salts [Ni(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O and Pd(NH3)(4)Cl-2 center dot H2O] over pellet-form gamma-Al2O3 with a constant content of Pd (0.5 wt%) and varying Ni/Pd atomic ratio (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1) obtaining egg-shell profiles of the active components. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed techniques, such as reduction in hydrogen and desorption of ammonia, N-2 physisorption, and transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic test showed that the 1,3-butadiene was selectively hydrogenated when bimetallic catalysts were used. The addition of Ni to the Pd-based catalysts suppressed n-butane formation and increased recovery of 1-butene at medium conversion. Therefore, it was observed an improved catalytic performance of the bimetallic catalysts being highest in the case of the 1NiPd/Al2O3.