Palladium Promoted Production of Higher Amines from a Lower Amine Feedstock

Yufen Hao; Fernando Cárdenas-Lizana; Mark A Keane

doi:10.1007/s10562-016-1902-7

Palladium Promoted Production of Higher Amines from a Lower Amine Feedstock

Catal Letters. 2017;147(4):803-810. doi: 10.1007/s10562-016-1902-7. Epub 2017 Feb 14.

Authors

Yufen Hao¹, Fernando Cárdenas-Lizana¹, Mark A Keane¹

Affiliation

¹ Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS Scotland, UK.

Abstract

Abstract: The catalytic (Pd/Al₂O₃ and Pd/C; mean Pd size 2.5-3.0 nm from (S)TEM analysis) synthesis of di-butylamine (DBA) and tri-butylamine (TBA) from mono-butylamine (MBA) and DBA, respectively, in continuous gas phase operation is demonstrated. Exclusive production of DBA (from MBA) has been established over both catalysts where 453 ≤ T ≤ 523 K (∆E_a = 79 kJ mol^-1). Greater activity for Pd/C is associated with higher levels of surface acidity (from NH₃ chemisorption/TPD) and spillover hydrogen (from H₂ TPD). Reaction of DBA over both catalysts when configured in series delivered full selectivity to TBA. Our results establish a novel clean alternative route for the continuous production of higher (secondary and tertiary) amines.

Keywords: Catalyst beds in series; Pd/Al2O3; Pd/C; Secondary amine; Tertiary amine.