Preparation of Pd/C catalysts via deposition of palladium hydroxide onto Sibunit carbon and their application to partial hydrogenation of rapeseed oil

Pd/Sibunit catalysts were prepared by deposition of palladium hydroxide onto the support surface in an alkaline medium. It was found that the palladium distribution throughout the catalyst grain, and the dispersion of Pd particles depend on (i) the order of the addition of H₂PdCl₄ and Na₂CO₃ to carbon suspension, (ii) Na₂CO₃ to H₂PdCl₄ ratio, and (iii) aging time of the mixture H₂PdCl₄ + Na₂CO₃ before its addition to the carbon. The catalysts were tested in the hydrogenation of cyclohexene and rapeseed oil under static conditions. The yield of trans-isomers as products of partial hydrogenation of rapeseed oil was found to decrease with decreasing the Pd particle size in the catalysts, as well as with increasing the Pd concentration on the periphery of the support grains.