Enhanced Sulfur Tolerance of Bimetallic PtPd/Al2O3 Catalysts for Hydrogenation of Tetralin by Addition of Fluorine

A series of mono- and bi-metallic Pt-Pd/Al 2 O 3 samples with and without F were studied as aromatic hydrogenation catalysts. The effects of changing the order of impregnation of the Pt precursor and F as well as varying the calcination temperature (300–500 °C) were investigated. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) results demonstrate the presence of a higher fraction of dispersed metal precursor species left on the surface from the impregnation (PtO x Cl y ) on the Pt/Al 2 O 3 sample calcined at high temperature. The impregnation of F before the Pt precursor significantly decreases the interaction between the metal and the support. However, this decrease is not observed when F is impregnated after the metal precursor. For the bimetallic Pt-Pd catalysts, the sample prepared adding F before the metal show a higher degree of Pt-Pd interaction than either the parent Pt-Pd/Al 2 O 3 catalyst or the one prepared with F added later. TPD of ammonia result show the increase in strong acid sites when F is present. Activity tests for tetralin hydrogenation in the presence of 350 ppm dibenzothiophene indicate a better sulfur tolerance for all F-promoted catalysts, especially Pt-Pd.