The main purpose of the present study is to synthesis different fullerene (C60)-based metal nanocatalysts that is used for the catalytic hydrogenation of benzene in gasoline. In this paper, the fullerenes are used as a support medium for metal catalysts[1-3]. A new method (involves a combination of impregnation, ultrasound and reduction methods) was used to produce these catalysts and fullerenol was synthesized by using oleum (H2SO4 SO3), followed by the hydrolysis of the intermediate cyclosulfated fullerene an oxidizing agent was employed to functionalize the fullerenes[4]. Catalytic activity was evaluated over a temperature range 25 250 ºC under a hydrogen pressure range 1-50 atm, metal content of catalyst ranging from 1-10% (w/w) and reaction time of 30-180 min. The results show that the yield of hydrogenation under optimum conditions (metal loading of about 10%, reaction time of 180 min and pressure of 50 atm) are obtained: 99.59, 99.48, 98.09, 98.51 and 97.56%, for Rh, Ru, Pt, Pd and Ni, respectively.
