Selective hydrogenation process and catalyst therefor

A catalyst as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the catalyst is in the form of shaped particles having a minimum dimension greater than 1 mm.

A catalyst as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the lanthanide compound is a compound of cerium, gadolinium or lanthanum.

A catalyst as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the palladium is present at a level in the range of about 50 ppm to about 1% by weight calculated as Pd metal and the weight of the total catalyst.

A catalyst as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the lanthanide compound is present at a concentration of 50-5000 ppmw based on the lanthanide metal and the weight of the total catalyst.

A catalyst as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the atomic ratio of Pd to lanthanide metal is in the range 1:0.5-1:3.5.

A catalyst as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the palladium is present in the form of palladium metal.

A process for the hydrogenation of a hydrogenatable organic compound comprising the step of passing a mixture of a gaseous feed containing said hydrogenatable organic compound and hydrogen over a catalyst which consists essentially of a palladium compound supported upon a support material characterised in that said catalyst further comprises a compound of a lanthanide.