Selective hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene over supported nickel catalyst obtained from nickel-zirconia solid solution

Catalytic properties of Ni-ZrO₂ catalysts prepared by coprecipitation have been studied for the gas-phase hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene to butenes. The coprecipitation method led to the solid solution of Ni-ZrO₂, which contains highly resistant Ni species to thermal reduction with H₂. Nickel species of the solid solution were highly dispersed in the ZrO₂ lattice, so that the reduced catalysts were selective for hydrogenation of 1,3-butadiene to butenes (99.9%) even in the presence of 1-butene.