Pilot tests of a catalyst for the selective hydrogenation of acetylene

Pilot tests of SGA-2M promoted Pd/Al2O3 catalyst in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene are performed on an industrial ethane-ethylene fraction in a system of two serially arranged adiabatic flow reactors. The optimum process conditions under which the conversion of acetylene reaches 100% at a selectivity of 68.2% with respect to ethylene are determined: system pressure, 21 atm; hydrocarbon feedstock hourly space velocity (HSV), 1500 h−1, carbon monoxide concentration, 7 ppm; H2: C2H2 molar ratio at the first and second hydrogenation stages, 1.0: 1.0 and 1.4: 1.0; inlet temperature of the first and second reactors, 40 and 55°C, respectively. The interregeneration service life of the SGA-2M catalyst under optimum conditions is estimated at 12 months. SGA-2M catalysts can be recommended for purifying ethane-ethylene fractions containing up to 2 vol % of acetylene.