Ruthenium is primarily used as a catalyst in the petrochemical industry, particularly exhibiting efficient catalytic performance in hydrogenation reactions, oxidation reactions, and synthetic chemistry.
An important application of ruthenium catalysts in the petrochemical industry is hydrogenation reactions. These reactions are commonly used to convert unsaturated hydrocarbons into saturated compounds or to carry out industrial processes such as hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrification. Ruthenium catalysts excel in these processes due to their high activity and selectivity. For instance, ruthenium black (powder form of ruthenium) has been widely used in various hydrogenation reactions, effectively improving the quality of oil products.