HYDROGENATION OF CYCLOHEXENE AND BENZENE OVER AN AMORPHOUS PD-ZR ALLOY

Amorphous Pd-Zr alloys, produced by a rapid solidification technique, were studied to determine their catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of cyclohexene and benzene. The activity of the amorphous alloy without pretreatment by air was lower than that of the corresponding crystalline alloy, but it was gradually increased with the pretreatment. The surface area and the hydrogen adsorption activity of the alloys were simultaneously increased with the pretreatment. It is found from X-ray diffraction pattern and SEM (scanning electron microscopy) observation that palladium, which is an active species for hydrogenation in the amorphous alloys, is highly dispersed on the granulated ZrO//2 surface by the pretreatment.