PRETREATMENT OF CATALYST SUPPORT TO ENHANCE CATALYTIC DEHYDROGENATION OF A HYDROQUINONE.

摘要

A process is provided for preparing a catalyst system containing a catalyst support and an associated catalyst used to catalytically dehydrogenate a hydroquinone. In accordance with the process, the catalyst support is pretreated by selecting a porous alumina of silica catalyst support and contacting it with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal salt, alkaline earth metal salt, or rare earth metal salt to produce the corresponding metal oxide on the surface of the support in a quantity sufficient to reduce the acidity thereof. The metal oxide-treated support is then contacted with a metal catalyst to produce a catalyst system having enhanced utility in the selective conversion of a hydroquinone to its corresponding quinone and hydrogen gas.