CATALYST AND PROCESS FOR DEHYDROGENATION OF OXYGEN- CONTAINING DERIVATIVES OF THE CYCLOHEXANE SERIES TO CORRESPONDING CYCLIC KETONES AND/OR PHENOLS

摘要

The present invention provides a catalyst for dehydrogenation of oxygen-containing derivatives of the cyclohexane series of the general formula: wherein R1 is hydrogen or a C1-C4 alkyl; R2 and R3 are radicals which may be the same or different, and are selected from -H, -OH, and =0, provided that R2 and R3 are not both hydrogen and R1, R2 and R3 are attached to different carbon atoms of the ring to form corresponding cyclic ketones and/ or phenols, the catalyst containing the following components, per cent by weight: Nickel 15 to 55; promoter which is germanium and/or lead 0.2 to 8.0 and inert carrier 84.8 to 37.0 the atomic ratio or nickel to the promotor being in the range of from 15:1 to 410:1 respectively the inert carrier being selected from the group consisting of silica, kieselguhr, silicon carbide and magnesia. The catalyst can additionally contain a salt of an alkali metal and a mineral acid in an amount of from 0.01 to 1.0% by weight. The present invention also provides a process for dehydrogenating oxygen-containing derivatives of the cyclohexane series into corresponding cyclic ketones and/or phenols effected in the presence of said catalyst and an inert diluent at 160- 340.degree.C under atmospheric pressure and with feed rates of said derivatives of the cyclohexane series and inert diluent of 0.5 to 5.0 kg/1.h and 1 to 53 m3/1.h, respectively. The catalyst has high productivity (up to 3.8 kg/1.hr) selectivity (up to 99%) and stability (operates with unchanged characteristics of productivity and selectivity for 400 hours and longer). The process is simple and performed using standard equipment this is economically efficient.