Catalysts for selective hydrogenation of alkynes and alkadienes

Catalysts have been discovered that are useful in hydrogenation reactions, and particularly for the selective hydrogenation of acetylene and/or methyl acetylene (MA) and/or propadiene (PD) in light olefin-rich feedstreams. These catalysts can selectively hydrogenate acetylene with less selectivity to making oligomers (green oil) as compared with existing commercial catalysts, particularly palladium catalysts. These catalysts are non-palladium catalysts, and have three different constituents that are metal or metal-based components. The metal of the first constituent may be nickel or platinum, the metal of the second constituent may be from Groups 1-10, and the metal of the third constituent may be from Groups 11-12, where the Groups are of the Periodic Table of Elements (new IUPAC notation).