Nanosizing Pd on 3D porous carbon frameworks as effective catalysts for selective phenylacetylene hydrogenation

In this work, palladium nanoparticles supported on 3D porous carbon frameworks (Pd/PCFs) were used in the selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene. Catalytic tests conducted in a continuous-flow reactor coupled with theoretical calculations, HPLC and characterization methods helped to elucidate the structural origins of the observed selectivity patterns. A 62% selectivity towards styrene with a 93% conversion was observed in the hydrogenation of phenylacetylene at 20 °C and 3 bar for a hydrogen flow rate of 12 mL min−1 and a reaction liquid flow rate of 0.9 mL min−1. Commercially available Pd-based reference catalysts were tested under the same conditions in phenylacetylene hydrogenation, and the performance of 3 wt% Pd/PCFs was substantiated by studying the geometrical structure of PCFs and the stability of supported Pd nanoparticles under reaction conditions.