Hydrogenation Process Using Catalyst Comprising Ordered Intermetallic Compound

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation, in particular the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds using a hydrogenation catalyst comprising an ordered intermetallic compound. The ordered intermetallic compound comprises at least one metal of type A capable of activating hydrogen, and at least one metal of type B not capable of activating hydrogen, and the structure of the ordered intermetallic compound is such that at least one king of type A metals is mainly surrounded by atoms of the metal of type B. According to another aspect, the present invention is concerned with a catalyst comprising a support and the above ordered intermetallic compound supported on the support. According to still another aspect, the invention pertains to the use of a binary Pd—Ga ordered intermetallic compound as a catalyst. The hydrogenation process and catalysts of the present invention achieve a selectivity to the target compounds, e.g. in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene, which is superior to the prior art.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A process for the hydrogenation of at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon compound, the process comprising reacting the unsaturated carbon compound with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst,
 wherein the hydrogenation catalyst comprises an ordered intermetallic compound,   wherein the intermetallic compound comprises at least one kind of metal of type A capable of activating hydrogen, and at least one kind of metal of type B not capable of activating hydrogen, and the structure of the intermetallic compound is such that at least one kind of type A metals is mainly surrounded by atoms of type B metals,   wherein the unsaturated hydrocarbon compound is selected from the group consisting of alkynes, dialkynes, trialkynes and polyalkynes, and   wherein when the metal of type A is Co, the metal of type B is not Ge, Sn, or Al, and   when the metal of type A is Pd, the metal of type B is not Ge or Zn.   
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the hydrogenation is a selective hydrogenation. 
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 23  or  24 , wherein the unsaturated hydrocarbon is ethyne which is converted to ethene through the selective hydrogenation. 
     
     
         26 . The process according to  claim 25 , wherein the ethyne is present in admixture with an excess of ethene. 
     
     
         27 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the structure of the ordered intermetallic compound is such that at least 80% of the first coordination sphere of at least one kind of type A metals is occupied by atoms of type B metals. 
     
     
         28 . The process according to  claim 27 , wherein 100% of the first coordination sphere of at least one kind of type A metals is occupied by atoms of type B metals. 
     
     
         29 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the metals of type A are selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, and Au. 
     
     
         30 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the metals of type B are selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, Bi, Zn, Cd, and Hg. 
     
     
         31 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the molar ratio of the metals of type A and B (A:B) is from 2:1 to 1:20. 
     
     
         32 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the intermetallic compound is selected from the group consisting of Pd 2 Ga, PdGa, PdGa 5 , Pd 3 Ga 7 , PdSn, PdSn 2 , Pd 2 Ge, PdZn, PtZn and PtGa. 
     
     
         33 . The process according to  claim 23  or  claim 32 , wherein the intermetallic compound is subjected to surface etching prior to use as a hydrogenation catalyst in the selective hydrogenation. 
     
     
         34 . The process according to  claim 33 , wherein the etching is carried out using an alkaline etching solution. 
     
     
         35 . The process according to  claim 23 , wherein the intermetallic compound is comminuted prior to use as a hydrogenation catalyst in the selective hydrogenation. 
     
     
         36 . A catalyst comprising a support and an ordered intermetallic compound supported thereon, wherein
 the intermetallic compound comprises at least one kind of metal of type A capable of activating hydrogen, and at least one kind of metal of type B not capable of activating hydrogen, and   the structure of the intermetallic compound is such that at least one kind of type A metals is mainly surrounded by atoms of type B metals,   wherein the unsaturated hydrocarbon compound is selected from the group consisting of alkynes, dialkynes, trialkynes and polyalkynes, and   wherein when the metal of type A is Co, the metal of type B is not Ge, Sn, or Al, and   when the metal of type A is Pd, the metal of type B is not Ge or Zn.   
     
     
         37 . The catalyst according to  claim 36 , wherein the structure of the ordered intermetallic compound is such that at least 80% of the first coordination sphere of at least one kind of type A metals is occupied by atoms of type B metals. 
     
     
         38 . The catalyst according to  claim 37 , wherein 100% of the first coordination sphere of at least one kind of type A metals is occupied by atoms of type B metals. 
     
     
         39 . The catalyst according to  claim 36 , wherein the metals of type A are selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, and Au. 
     
     
         40 . The catalyst according to  claim 36 , wherein the metals of type B are selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, Bi, Zn, Cd, and Hg. 
     
     
         41 . The catalyst according to  claim 36 , wherein the molar ratio of the metals of type A and B (A:B) is from 2:1 to 1:20. 
     
     
         42 . A process for the hydrogenation of at least one unsaturated hydrocarbon compound, the process comprising reacting the unsaturated carbon compound with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst,
 wherein the hydrogenation catalyst comprises a catalyst according to  claim 36 .