CATALYTIC-HYDROGENATION OF 4-(HYDROXYAMINO)-2-NITROTOLUENE AND 2,4-NITROAMINOTOLUENE ISOMERS - KINETICS AND REACTIVITY

The kinetics of the liquid-phase hydrogenation of 4-(hydroxyamino)-2-n itrotoluene, 4-amino-2-nitrotoluene, and 2-amino-4-nitrotoluene were s tudied in ethanol over a 5% Pd/C catalyst, in the temperature range be tween 283 and 323 K and at a pressure of 0.1. MPa. The reaction rates have been described by a Langmuir-Hinshelwood type model with adsorpti on of the organic species and hydrogen on a different type of active s ite. The rate constant, the adsorption constants, and the activation e nergy for each reaction have been determined by a nonlinear regression analysis. The effect of molecular structure on the reactivity of mono - and dinitro derivatives has been also investigated.