The nature of modifying effect of gallium on Pd-Ga/Al2O3 catalyst for liquid-phase selective acetylene hydrogenation

The structural properties of Pd-Ga/gamma-Al2O3 samples prepared from joint Pd(NO3)(2) and Ga(NO3)(3) solution and their catalytic properties in liquid-phase acetylene hydrogenation have been studied. Using temperature programmed reduction (TPR-H-2), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy of adsorbed CO (CO-DRIFTS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) it was found that an increase in the ethylene selectivity to similar to 66-70% is explained by the modification of the electronic properties of palladium by gallium at a Ga:Pd molar ratio of 0.5 and by the formation of bimetallic Pd2Ga particles in the case of Ga:Pd = 2.

Automated summary

The study explores how modifying the electronic properties of palladium by gallium and forming bimetallic Pd2Ga particles can increase the selectivity of ethylene.