SELECTIVE HYDROGENATION OF PHENYLACETYLENE ON PUMICE-SUPPORTED PALLADIUM CATALYSTS

The liquid phase, selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene on pumice-supported palladium catalysts has been studied for a large range of metallic dispersions (14% less than or equal to D-x less than or equal to 62%). The kinetics were analyzed by a five-parameter mathematical model. The mechanism was determined by the contribution of three basic routes involving only surface species in the rate-determining steps. The hydrogenation of phenylacetylene to styrene is ''structure insensitive.'' The disappearance rate constant of styrene produced from phenylacetylene is slightly lower than that of phenylacetylene and does not change in the case of the direct hydrogenation of styrene on the same Pd/pumice catalyst. However, Q(3) (the ratio of adsorption constants K-Eb/K-St, where Eb is ethylbenzene and St is styrene), which is typical of a zero order reaction (Q(3) --> 0) in the case of the direct hydrogenation, is practically constant ((Q(3) congruent to 2) in the case of hydrogenation of styrene produced from phenylacetylene. This is explained by the formation, in the latter case, of polymeric species or other species which are difficult to hydrogenate and by the consequent occupation of active sites so that the adsorption of styrene is inhibited. These species are also thought to be responsible for a flattening effect in the catalytic activity. Activity and selectivity data are critically analyzed and compared with those reported for other supported palladium catalysts. Since Pd/pumice catalysts also show high activity and selectivity at high metal dispersions, they could be of interest for industrial applications. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.