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Influence of different alumina phases on the catalytic properties of palladium-alumina catalysts for selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene

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Abstract

Selective hydrogenation of acetylene was studied using palladium catalysts supported on different transition alumina spheres. The alumina supports were prepared by calcining pseudo boehmite alumina sphere at different calcination temperatures; the ρ-Al2O3 used was flash calcined alumina. The alumina supports were characterized using different techniques like XRD, surface area, pore volume and acidity. The Pd/Al2O3 catalyst were prepared, palladium penetration depth was measured using microscopic imaging and the catalyst reducibility were studied by Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR). The microscopic imaging using TEM were done to study the palladium particle size and nature of particle clusters on the support surface. The catalyst performance evaluation was done in a fixed bed reactor with 1% acetylene in nitrogen feed and studied the impact of support properties on the catalytic activity. The catalyst prepared on γ-Al2O3 support showed the highest conversion and lowest selectivity, whereas the catalyst on α-Al2O3 support has the lower conversion and highest selectivity. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectroscopy analysis were done for the spent catalyst to understand the possibilities of heavy component deposition of the catalyst. The catalyst prepared on α-Al2O3 support had the lowest hydrocarbon deposit on the surface whereas the γ and δ alumina showed the highest hydrocarbon deposits on the catalyst surface.

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Acknowledgements

The author (KR) acknowledges the support received from the Management and R&D colleagues of Sud-Chemie India (P) Ltd for all the support received in completing this study. The author acknowledges DST-SAIF Cochin for the microscopic data analysis.

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No funding was received for conducting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, India

    Kishore Ravindran, G. Madhu & V. R. Renjith

  2. Sud-Chemie India (P) Limited, Edayar, Kochi, India

    Kishore Ravindran & Sreekala Rugmini

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  1. Kishore Ravindran
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  2. G. Madhu
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KR—main contributor for literature search, design, execution of the experiments and data interpretations involved in this study. GM—supervisor and research guide. VRR—contributed to the design and safety aspects of the test unit and the process. SR—contributed for the review of thermogravimetric studies and spent catalyst analysis.

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Correspondence to Kishore Ravindran.

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Ravindran, K., Madhu, G., Renjith, V.R. et al. Influence of different alumina phases on the catalytic properties of palladium-alumina catalysts for selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene. Reac Kinet Mech Cat 134, 867–882 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-021-02112-7

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