The hydrogenation of triglycerides using supported alloy catalysts. II. Silica-supported Pd-Cu catalysts

Abstract

Silica-supported Ni-Ag catalysts with a loading of 2·1·0.6% (w/w) total metal have been prepared using the precursors nickel dimethylglyoxime and silver nitrate by means of a simple impregnation method. The resulting catalysts were activated by calcination at 260°C in air, followed by hydrogen reduction at 450°C. They were then employed for soyabean oil hydrogenation at 1 bar H2 pressure and 160°C in a stirred batch reactor. Characterisation of the catalysts using temperature-programmed reduction and electron microscopy indicated that alloying of nickel and silver had occurred, but metal particle composition, for a given overall composition, varied with metal particle size and smaller metal particles were nickel rich. The hydrogenation activity and selectivity measurements revealed that the catalysts were more active and selective than a commercial nickel catalyst. Furthermore, the specific activities of the alloy catalysts were a maximum for alloys in the range 70–90 at. % Ni. However, the supported alloy catalysts also gave rise to greater trans isomerisation than the commercial catalyst. This is attributed to hydrogen deficiency caused by large triglyceride molecules blocking hydrogen chemisorption on small nickel particles (10–50 A in diameter), leading to enhanced cis-trans isomerisation.