Impact of solvent on Co/SiO2 activity and selectivity for the synthesis of n-butylamine from butyronitrile hydrogenation

Abstract

The impact of solvent on Co(9.8%)/SiO2 activity and selectivity for the synthesis of n-butylamine from the liquid-phase butyronitrile hydrogenation was investigated at 373 K and 13 bar using methanol, benzene, toluene and cyclohexane as solvents. In non-polar solvents, the yield of nbutylamine increased from 60% to 79% following the order cyclohexane < toluene < benzene. Nevertheless, the highest n-butylamine yield (91%) was obtained in methanol, a protic solvent. The solvent effect on the catalyst performance was interpreted by considering: i) the solvent-catalyst interaction strength that was investigated by temperature-programmed desorption of solvents characterized by mass spectrometry; ii) the solvent polarity and its ability for H-bond formation with n-butylamine