Hydrogenation of Ethylbenzene Over Ru/_γ-Al₂O₃ Catalyst in Trickle-Bed Reactor

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the catalytic performance of pellet-type Ru/γ-Al2O3 as a catalyst during liquid-phase hydrogenation of the aromatic hydrocarbon. The Ru/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was prepared using a wet impregnation method. After adding a binder to Ru/γ-Al2O3, a pellet-type catalyst was obtained through an extrusion method. Nanoporous structures are well developed in the pellet-type Ru/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. The average pore sizes of the Ru/γ-Al2O3 catalysts were approximately 10 nm. The catalytic performance of the pellet-type Ru/γ-Al2O3 catalyst during ethylbenzene hydrogenation was evaluated in a trickle-bed reactor. When the ruthenium loading increased from 1 to 5 wt%, the number of active sites effective for the hydrogenation of ethylbenzene increased proportionally. In order to maximize the conversion of ethylbenzene to ethylcyclohexane, it was necessary to maintain a liquid phase hydrogenation reaction in the trickle bed reactor. In this regards, the reaction temperature should be lower than 90 °C. The conversion of ethylbenzene to ethylcyclohexane on the Ru(5 wt%)/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was highest, which is ascribed to the largest number of active sites of the catalyst.