Silica-supported copper nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for the liquid-phase selective hydrogenation of p-dinitrobenzene by molecular hydrogen

Abstract

Monometallic and bimetallic copper-containing catalysts supported on silica gel KSKG were synthesized. The bimetallic Cu—Zn catalysts were most active and selective in the hydro-genation of p-dinitrobenzene (DNB) to p-phenylenediamine (PDA) (99% at 100% conversion of DNB). The highest activity and 99% selectivity to PDA at 100% DNB conversion were demonstrated by the monometallic catalysts with a Cu content of 9%. Unlike hydrogenation on the conventional catalysts, molecular H₂ is the hydrogenating agent in the presence of the copper-containing catalysts under relatively mild conditions (110–140 °C, 1.3 MPa).