ACETONE HYDROGENATION OVER CO-PRECIPITATED NI AL2O3, CO/AL2O3 AND FE/AL2O3 CATALYSTS/

Co-precipitated Ni/Al2O3, Co/Al2O3 and Fe/Al2O3 catalysts containing 1 0-50 wt.% of metal are prepared and characterized by BET surface area, pore volume and XRD. Hydrogen chemisorption and oxygen uptake measure ments are used to estimate the extent of reduction and the available s urface metal sites. Acetone hydrogenation under vapour phase condition s is carried out over the catalysts in the temperature region 373-523 K. Conversion and selectivity of the catalysts are compared and are co rrelated with their hydrogen and oxygen uptake characteristics. Nickel catalysts are very active followed by cobalt and iron. A dual functio n mechanism involving both metal and acidic properties decide the sele ctivity of the products. The selectivity for propan-2-ol depends only on the metal availability whereas the selectivity for isobutyl methyl ketone depends on both acidic and metallic character of the catalyst. A mechanism explaining the different products formed is postulated.