INFLUENCE OF SUBSTRATE ON BEHAVIOR OF GRAPHITE-SUPPORTED PALLADIUM CATALYSTS

To investigate whether the properties of the metal are affected by the interaction between the metal and the substrate, palladium on graphite has been used as a catalyst for the hydroisomerization of 1-butene; the variable parameters of the reaction being studied as a function of whether (a) the palladium was decorating" the graphite surface or (b) the palladium was randomly dispersed over the graphite surface. The results show that decoration of the graphite by the metal increases both the rates of hydrogenation and isomerization. Furthermore under reaction conditions the palladium is mobile on the substrate surface; this mobility results in an increase in the particle size of the palladium and a consequential loss in catalytic activity. © 1969."