Liquid-phase Hydrogenation of Phenol to Cyclohexanone over Supported Palladium Catalysts

The ZSM-5, g-Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 and MgO supported Pd-catalysts were prepared for the phenol hydrogenation to cyclohexanone in liquid-phase. The natures of these catalysts were characterized by XRD, N 2 adsorption-desorption analysis, H 2 -TPR, CO 2 -TPD and NH 3 -TPD. The catalytic performance of the supported Pd-catalyst for phenol hydrogenation to cyclohexanone is closely related to nature of the support and the size of Pd nanoparticles. The Pd/MgO catalyst which possesses higher basicity shows higher cyclohexanone selectivity, but lower phenol conversion owing to the lower specific surface area. The Pd/SiO 2 catalyst prepared by precipitation gives higher cyclohexanone selectivity and phenol conversion, due to the moderate amount of Lewis acidic sites, and the smaller size and higher dispersion of Pd nanoparticles on the surface. Under the reaction temperature of 135 o C and H 2 pressure of 1 MPa, after reacting for 3.5 h, the phenol conversion of 71.62% and the cyclohexanone selectivity of 90.77% can be obtained over 0.5 wt% Pd/SiO 2 catalyst. Copyright © 2016 BCREC GROUP. All rights reserved Received: 7 th March 2016; Revised: 13 rd May 2016; Accepted: 7 th June 2016 How to Cite: Fan, L., Zhang, L., Shen, Y., Liu, D., Wahab, N., Hasan, M.M. (2016). Liquid-phase Hydrogenation of Phenol to Cyclohexanone over Supported Palladium Catalysts. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis , 11 (3): 354-362 (doi: 10.9767/bcrec.11.3.575.354-362) Permalink/DOI : http://doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.11.3.575.354-362