A PROCESS FOR THE SELECTIVE HYDROGENATION OF POLY-UNSATURATED ORGANIC COMPOUNDS SUCH AS POLY-UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS ESTERS OR SALTS

摘要

The selectivity of the hydrogenation of compounds containing more than one double carbon-carbon bond in the presence of a metallic catalyst of group VIII of the periodic system is improved and trans isomer formation is reduced by treating the catalyst with a basic compound before addition of the catalyst to the substrate or in situ. The basic compound is a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, an alkali or alkaline earth hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide, a salt with a weak acid of such a hydroxide or an alcoholate of the cations of these hydroxides.