Sulfur-tolerant Pd-Pt/Al2O3-B2O3 catalyst for aromatic hydrogenation

Hydrogenation of tetralin was done over a bimetallic Pd-Pt catalyst support ed on amorphous Al2O3-B2O3 at a hydrogen pressure of 3.9 MPa at 553 K in th e presence of dibenzothiophene (sulfur content of 500 ppm by weight). The r esulting activity and selectivity were compared with those for Pd-Pt suppor ted on amorphous SiO2-Al2O3, gamma-Al2O3, SiO2, and USY zeolites. Pd-Pt/Al2 O3-B2O3 had high sulfur tolerance; it showed higher activity than Pd-Pt/SiO 2-Al2O3, Pd-Pt/gamma-Al2O3, Pd-Pt/SiO2, or Pd-Pt/USY (SiO2/Al2O3 = 680), bu t slightly lower activity than Pd-Pt/USY (SiO2/Al2O3 = 40) Furthermore, Pd- Pt/Al2O3-B2O3 showed excellent hydrogenation selectivity. This catalytic sy stem, therefore, is promising for practically reducing the aromatics in die sel fuels. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.