A catalyst composition is provided which can be used for hydrogenating a
highly unsaturated hydrocarbon such as an alkyne or a diolefin. The
catalyst composition contains palladium, a catalyst component of either
silver or an alkali metal compound, or both silver and an alkali metal
compound, and a metal aluminate catalyst support. Such metal aluminate
catalyst support is prepared by a process of incorporating alumina with a
metal component, preferably impregnating alumina with a melted metal
component, to thereby provide a metal-incorporated alumina followed by
drying and high temperature calcining to thereby provide a metal aluminate
catalyst support. The catalyst composition disclosed can be used for
hydrogenating a highly unsaturated hydrocarbon to a less unsaturated
hydrocarbon. The process involves contacting a highly unsaturated
hydrocarbon with a catalyst composition in the presence of hydrogen under
a hydrogenation condition sufficient to effect a hydrogenation of the
highly unsaturated hydrocarbon.
