(45e) Catalyzed Hydrogenation by Coated Catalysts in Microctructured Reactors

The aim of this work is the optimization of heterogeneous catalyzed hydrogenation by coated catalysts in a microstructured reactor and the comparison with conventional procedures. Additionally the hydrogenation process is characterized by its possibilities in process intensification.

In this work the continuous operated process of the catalytic hydrogenation on coated catalysts was optimized and characterized. Electro-chemically deposed, from aqueous solutions and ionic liquids, coated catalysts with platinum and palladium have been characterized. The coated platinum catalyst (6 mg/g metal foam, from aqueous solutions) and the nickel metal foam hardly exhibit catalytic activity. Coated palladium catalysts have a high catalytic activity. The best result was performed on a coated palladium catalyst (30 mg/g metal foam, from ionic liquids). At nitrobenzene concentration 1 mol/l, flowrate 1 ml/min, temperature 170 °C, pressure 35 bar, the microstructured hydrogenation reactor can produce 24.1 kmol aniline/m³ reactor per an hour while a batch reactor of 3 m³ volume, operating at 20 bar, 125 °C, initial nitrobenzene concentration 0.4 mol/l, 5 % Pd/C catalyst would have an hourly production rate of 8.5 kmol aniline/m³ reactor (assuming no downtime between batches).