HYDROGENATION OF THE AROMATIC RINGS OF 2-ETHYLANTHRAQUINONE ON PALLADIUM CATALYST

Hydrogenation of anthraquinones at the oxygen is a key step in the ind ustrial production of hydrogen peroxide. The reaction is very fast in the presence of palladium supported catalysts. However, these catalyst s also promote the hydrogenation of the aromatic rings of the anthraqu inone molecules giving place to substances not participating in the fo rmation of hydrogen peroxide and causing a loss of active quinone. 2-e thylanthraquinone can also give tautomerization to oxanthrone and deri vatives with a further loss of active quinone. The kinetics of the hyd rogenation of the aromatic rings of 2-ethylanthraquinone are studied. A dual site reaction mechanism well explains the experimental findings . On the basis of this mechanism, kinetic expressions have been develo ped and the kinetic parameters determined. The contribution of tautome rization to the kinetic pattern has also been ascertained.