HYDROGENATION OF CROTONALDEHYDE OVER COBA LT CATALYSTS

The selective hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde to crotyl alcohol was in vestigated over different carrier-free cobalt catalysts, supported Co catalysts and Fe or Ag containing bimetallic catalysts. The highest cr otyl alcohol/butyraldehyde selectivity ratios were observed in the cas e of some powder catalysts. Generally, large cobalt crystallites exhib it high selectivity to the unsaturated alcohol. For this reason, proce dures that aim in an increase of selectivity like calcination or reduc tion at high temperatures usually result in a decrease of activity. Th e same pattern (enhanced selectivity and decreased activity) was also found upon addition of Fe or Ag to Co.