Catalytic performance and deactivation of Ni/MCM-41 catalyst in the hydrogenation of pure acetylene to ethylene

Ni/MCM-41 catalysts were prepared by an impregnation method for acetylene hydrogenation to ethylene based on the calcium carbide acetylene route. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy indicated that Ni was uniformly dispersed on the support. Temperature-programmed reduction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated a strong interaction between Ni and MCM-41, and Ni(0) and Ni(ii) coexisted in the catalyst. We optimized the catalytic activity by optimizing the Ni loading and reaction conditions including temperature, space velocity, and hydrogen/acetylene ratio. The acetylene conversion reached 100%, the ethylene selectivity reached 47%. Additionally, we tested the catalyst stability; the acetylene conversion was maintained at 100% for 25.73 h and was then rapidly reduced. ICP, TEM, FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis and BET were used to investigate the reasons for catalyst deactivation; it was found that green oil deposition on the catalyst surface was the main reason for the catalyst deactivation.