Hydrogenation of acetylene over Ni/NiAl2O4 catalyst: Characterization, coking, and reaction studies

Ni/NiAl2O4 catalyst has been used for the hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene and ethane at temperatures between 423 and 493 K. The results presented include data on the physicochemical characterization of the catalyst, the evolution of its activity and selectivity and its coking behavior. These studies have been carried out on fresh catalyst and on catalyst samples subjected to an accelerated thermal aging process. The results show that the catalytic activity increases with time on stream (activation period), until a point is reached in which catalyst deactivation predominates (deactivation period). Catalyst aging in this system was found to reduce coke formation and to increase the hydrogenation activity observed. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.