The gas-phase hydrogenation/hydrogenolysis of alcoholic solutions of phenol
between 423 and 573 K has been studied using a Y zeolite-supported nickel
catalyst (2.2% w/w Ni) and Ni/SiO2 catalysts (1.5-20.3% w/w Ni). This is a
viable means of treating concentrated phenol streams to generate recyclable
raw material. Phenol hydrogenation proceeded in a stepwise fashion with cy
clohexanone as a reactive intermediate while a combination of hydrogenolysi
s and hydrogenation yielded cyclohexane. Hydrogenolysis to benzene is favor
ed by high nickel loadings and elevated temperatures. A catalytic hydrogen
treatment of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol helped to establish the overall
reaction network/mechanism. The possible role of thermodynamic limitations
is considered and structure sensitivity is addressed; reaction data are su
bjected to a pseudo-first-order kinetic treatment. Hydrogen temperature-pro
grammed desorption (H-2-TPD) has revealed the existence of different forms
of surface hydrogen.. Selectivity is interpreted on the basis of the H-2-TP
D profiles and the possible phenol/catalyst interactions. The zeolite sampl
e only catalyzed (via the surface Bronsted acidity) anisole formation in th
e presence of methanol, but this was suppressed when hexanol was used; the
zeolite then promoted hydrogenolysis. The zeolite, however, deactivated and
this was not reversed by heating in hydrogen. The results of the hydrogen
treatment of aqueous rather than alcoholic phenol solutions are presented,
where a switch from methanol to water was, accompanied by a move from highl
y selective hydrogenolysis to highly selective hydrogenation.