Method for selective hydrogenation of hydrocarbon

PURPOSE: To advantageously obtain olefin by subjecting diolefinic and/or acetylenic unsaturated compds. to selective hydrogenation with hydrogen in the presence of a new metallic catalyst using a group VIII metal as the base metal containing Ga and In. CONSTITUTION: A charging raw material contg. diolefinic and/or acetylenic unsaturated compds. is subjected to selective hydrogenation at a temp. of 0 to 200°C under a pressure of 20 to 300 bar in the presence of a catalyst to recover desired olefins. At this time, as the catalyst, the one obtd. by combining 0.1 to 10 wt.% of at least one of group VIII metals selected from the group of nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium and ruthenium with 0.01 to 10 wt.% of at least one of an additional group III A metallic elements selected from the group of gallium and indium is used. The catalyst confining additional metals is advantageous since it does not deteriorate the activity of the base metal (the group VIII metal). COPYRIGHT: (C)1994,JPO