# Selective Acetylene Hydrogenation: Influence of Carbon Supports on the Stabilization of Pd4S-like Active Sites

## TL;DR

This study explores how carbon supports and palladium precursors affect the performance of catalysts in acetylene hydrogenation.

## Contribution

The study identifies how sulfur incorporation and carbon support properties influence the stability and selectivity of Pd–S active sites.

## Key findings

- HHT-supported catalysts show the highest ethylene selectivity and stability.
- Sulfate-derived catalysts generally exhibit better selectivity than chloride-derived ones.
- Highly graphitic supports like HHT fibers promote sulfur retention, enhancing catalytic performance.

## Abstract

This study examines how both the nature of the carbon support and the palladium precursor influence catalytic performance in acetylene hydrogenation. Six Pd-based catalysts were prepared on four carbon materials—high-heat-treated fibers (HHTs), carbon nanotubes, activated carbon and high surface area graphite—using either sulfate or chloride precursors. Catalytic tests performed in a continuous fixed-bed reactor reveal that HHT-supported catalysts achieve the highest ethylene selectivity and long-term stability, while in general catalysts derived from sulfate precursors exhibit enhanced selectivity compared to their chloride-derived counterparts. These improvements are consistent with the formation of sulfur, which may be incorporated as sub-stoichiometric sulfide species (S2−) interacting with metallic Pd, as revealed by the XPS results, rather than to palladium dispersion alone. The role of the carbon support in stabilizing these sites was further assessed by complementary characterization techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The combined results indicate that highly graphitic supports such as HHT fibers favor sulfur retention at the catalyst surface, thereby promoting the stability and catalytic performance of Pd–S active motifs during acetylene hydrogenation.