Catalytic hydrogenation process
A process for the selective catalytic hydrogenation of alkynes and/or dienes in a hydrocarbon stream in the presence of hydrogen, an alcohol, and a supported catalyst is disclosed. The presence of the alcohol reduces the catalyst deactivation and improves the selectivity of the hydrogenation.
1 . A process comprising treating a hydrocarbon stream comprising an olefin and 0.001 to 5 wt % of an alkyne, a diene, or a mixture of both in the presence of hydrogen, an alcohol and a supported Group VIII metal catalyst to produce a purified hydrocarbon stream.
2 . The process of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the alcohol is in liquid phase.
3 . The process of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of the alcohol to the hydrocarbon stream is in the range of 1:10 to 10:1.
4 . The process of claim 1 wherein the alcohol is a C 1-5 alcohol.
5 . The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin is ethylene and the alcohol is ethanol.
6 . The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin is propylene and the alcohol is a propanol.
7 . The process of claim 1 wherein the Group VIII metal is palladium.
8 . The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst further comprises a Group IB metal, a Group IIB metal, or a mixture of both.
9 . The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst further comprises silver.
10 . The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin has a concentration of from 50 to 99 wt % in the hydrocarbon stream.
11 . The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin has a concentration of from 90 to 99 wt % in the hydrocarbon stream.
12 . The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin is ethylene and the alkyne is acetylene.
13 . The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst comprises palladium, silver, and alumina.