A NOVEL MICROFABRICATED PD/SIO2 MODEL CATALYST FOR THE HYDROGENATION OF 1,3-BUTADIENE

The hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene was successfully demonstrated using a microfabricated catalyst. The reaction was carried out at atmospheric pressure and 100-degrees-C with a hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio of 125. Data from a thin film Pd/silica catalyst is also presented for comparison. The conversion for the microfabricated catalyst is more stable and slightly lower than that for the thin film catalyst; however, the geometric surface area of the thin film catalyst is 7.5 times greater than that of the microfabricated catalyst. The selectivity of the reaction products is greatly different between the two catalysts. The microfabricated catalyst has a much lower selectivity for 1-butene and favors the 2-butenes more so than does the thin film catalyst.