Catalytic reduction of aromatic nitro compounds: general questions, equipment, enlarged laboratory tests

Abstract

The article is devoted to issues of amines production from nitro compounds. The processes of catalytic reduction of aromatic nitrocompounds by hydrogen to amines have practically superseded all other methods for the production of aromatic amines in large-tonnage plants. Aromatic mono-, di- and polyamines, due to their high reactivity, are widely used in the production of various compounds (photochemicals, fuel stabilizers and additives lubricating oils, in the paint and varnish industry, for painting natural and synthetic fibers). Authors compare methods of nitro compounds reduction and show different variants of apparature design. The article also describes the results of enlarged laboratory examinations of the deposited catalysts synthesized by authors in reactions of p-phenylenediamine, p-amino-diethylaniline, o- and p-aminophenols production. By using relatively small amounts of catalysts (0.48-0.6 g of catalyst by hydrogenating 50 g of an aromatic nitro compound) were obtained high amine yields of 90-98.7%.