THE INFLUENCE OF THE METHOD OF PD SIO2 CATALYST REDUCTION ON THE COURSE OF 2-ETHYLANTHRAQUINONE HYDROGENATION/

Hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone (eAQ) was carried out over 4% Pd /SiO2 catalyst under the stirred batch reactor conditions at atmospher ic pressure of hydrogen and temp. 62 degrees C. Catalysts containing t he hydrated palladium oxide were reduced with hydrogen in situ or outs ide of the reactor using formaldehyde, hydrazine or hydrogen (at temp. 50-300 degrees C). It was stated that the method of catalyst pretreat ment influences both the course of >C=O to greater than or equal to C- OH reduction and the ''deep hydrogenation'' comprising hydrogenation o f aromatic rings as well as hydrogenolysis of carbon-oxygen bond. The highest rate of >C=O reduction and the high selectivity of this reacti on was observed over catalyst reduced in situ. At the presence of such a catalyst also the selectivity of 2-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroanthraqu inone (H(4)eAQ) formation in ''deep hydrogenation'' was relatively hig h (50%).