Pd/MCM-41 catalyst for acetylene hydrogenation to ethylene.

This study aims to produce ethylene using the calcium carbide route, acetylene from calcium carbide and then selective hydrogenation of the high-concentration acetylene to ethylene. A series of catalysts with different supports, such as Al2O3, SiO2 and MCM-41, were prepared using the ethylene glycol reduction method and their catalytic properties for high-concentration acetylene hydrogenation of calcium carbide to ethylene were studied by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and thermogravimetry, among others. The results show that the small particle size and uniform dispersion of palladium (Pd) particles in the Pd/MCM-41 catalyst produced the highest ethylene yield of 62.09%. Then, the conditions for the basic reaction, such as reaction temperature and space velocity, were optimized using MCM-41 as a support. The yield of ethylene after condition optimization was as high as 82.87%, while the loading of Pd was 0.1%.