LIQUID PHASE CATALYTIC HYDROGENATION OF PHENOL

Abstract

Liquid phase hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone was investigated over commercial carbon supported palladium catalyst. Study was to find the effect of temperature, catalyst load and metal content on the selectivity and phenol consumption rate. Experimental study was carried out in a slurry phase, isothermal batch process, using an autoclave. The major products of the hydrogenation reaction were cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol. The selectivity for cyclohexanone was up to 98%, with complete conversion of phenol depending on the temperature, catalyst weight and metal content. Phenol consumption rates increased with the temperature and catalyst load. Decrease in metal content reduced the phenol consumption rate, while selectivity was not much affected. Apparent activation energy for the phenol conversion was found to be 31.51 kJ/mol.