A facile and straightforward methodology for the preparation of monometallic (copper and palladium) and bimetallic nanocatalysts (NiCu and PdCu) stabilized by a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand is reported. Both colloidal and supported nanoparticles (NPs) on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared in a one-pot synthesis with outstanding control on their size, morphology and composition. These catalysts were evaluated in the selective hydrogenation of alkynes and alkynols. PdCu/CNTs revealed an efficient catalytic system providing high selectivity in the hydrogenation of terminal and internal alkynes. Moreover, this catalyst was tested in the semi-hydrogenation of acetylene in industrially relevant acetylene/ethylene-rich model gas feeds and showed excellent stability even after 40 h of reaction.
Keywords: acetylene; alkynes; heterocycles; nanoparticles; selective hydrogenation.
© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.