HYDROGENATION OF 9-OCTADECENOIC ACID BY RU-SN-AL2O3 CATALYSTS - EFFECTS OF CATALYST PREPARATION METHOD

Evaluation of the method of preparation and the sequence of metal inco rporation onto the catalyst showed that they had profound effects on t he catalytic behavior of Ru Sn Al2O3 catalysts used in the selective h ydrogenation of oleic acid to 9-octadecen-1-ol. When Ru was loaded fir st onto the support and then followed by Sn, the catalyst had lower ac tivity but greater ability to preserve the unsaturated bond. On the ot her hand, when the sequence of loading was reversed, the behavior of t he catalyst changed correspondingly, i.e., the catalyst showed higher activity but poorer ability to protect the unsaturated bond. The metal particles incorporated via the sol gel method were finely and evenly distributed on the support. As such, they were more readily shielded b y the second metal particles that were subsequently incorporated via t he impregnation process. When both metals were loaded via the sol-gel- process, the best result was obtained with superior performance in act ivity, as well as selectivity in the preservation of double bond.