Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation, in particular the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds, such as the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene, using a hydrogenation catalyst comprising an ordered intermetallic compound, namely an ordered cobalt-aluminum or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a support and at least one specific ordered cobalt-aluminum and/or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound supported thereon, as well as to the use of specific ordered intermetallic cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds as catalysts. The ordered cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds proved to be highly selective and long-term stable catalysts, e.g. in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene in a large excess of ethylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrotalcite-like compounds, wherein Pd2+ occupies at least part of the octahedral sites in the brucite-like layers. According to another aspect, the invention is concerned with methods of converting these hydrotalcite-like compounds into materials comprising particles, in particular nanoparticles, of an ordered intermetallic compound of palladium and at least one constituent metal of the palladium-modified hydrotalcites. Moreover, the invention pertains to the material obtainable by the conversion method, the use of the material as a catalyst, and a process for the selective hydrogenation of alkyne(s) to the corresponding alkene(s) using the material as a hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the hydrogenation, in particular the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds, such as the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene, using a hydrogenation catalyst comprising an ordered intermetallic compound, namely an ordered cobalt-aluminum or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound. According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a catalyst comprising a support and at least one specific ordered cobalt-aluminum and/or iron-aluminum intermetallic compound supported thereon, as well as to the use of specific ordered intermetallic cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds as catalysts. The ordered cobalt-aluminum and iron-aluminum intermetallic compounds proved to be highly selective and long-term stable catalysts, e.g. in the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene in a large excess of ethylene.