ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Continuous synthesis of N-ethylethylenediamine over supported Cu–Zn–La catalysts

Wang-Wang Fang, Man-Man Mu, Jun Tian, Li-Gong Chen, and Yang Li

^aSchool of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China

E-mail: liyang777@tju.edu.cn

Abstract: A series of Cu-based catalysts were prepared and employed in the N-ethylation of ethylenediamine with ethanol in a fixed-bed reactor. Satisfying results were obtained using Cu–Zn–La/Al₂O₃ as a catalyst. In addition, Cu–Zn–La/SiO₂, Cu–Zn–La/Al₂O₃ and Cu–Zn–La/HZSM-5 were characterized by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method (BET), H₂- temperature program reduction (H₂-TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopic measurements (TEM) and NH₃-temperature programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD) in order to investigate the influence of supports on their catalytic performance. It was found that both the BET surface area and the acidity of the support are key factors in the catalytic performance. Moreover, reaction parameters including temperature, hydrogen pressure and liquid hourly space velocity were optimized. Under optimal conditions, a 73.3 % conversion of ethylenediamine and a 71.2 % selectivity of N-ethylethylenediamine were achieved. Finally, the lifetime of the catalysts was evaluated and the reaction proceeded continuously for over 200 h.

Keywords: N-ethylation – N-ethylethylenediamine – Cu–Zn–La catalysts

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1515/chempap-2015-0233

Chemical Papers 70 (4) 430–435 (2016)