Patent ID: 7473811

Claim:
A Process for the hydrogenation of olefins which comprises hydrogenating a feed stock comprising more than 90 wt-% of olefins in one or more hydrogenation reactors comprising at least two reaction stages, wherein (a) the feed stock is hydrogenated in a first reaction stage having a cooling circuit and comprising at least a first catalyst bed, wherein fresh hydrogen is introduced to said first reaction stage; (b) the effluent from said first reaction stage being hydrogenated in a final reaction stage comprising at least one catalyst bed and optionally having a cooling circuit; and (c) the process being generated in a trickling or pulse flow mode in a three phase reactor with a fixed catalyst bed, wherein (i) at least one catalyst being utilized in each stage; (ii) the catalyst being utilized in said stages being of the same or different from that being used in other stages; and (iii) the catalyst being of a different particle size and/or different shape in at least two of said stages.