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Evaluation of Benzylamine Production via Reductive Amination of Benzaldehyde in a Slurry Reactor
Author(s) -
Krupka Jiri,
Dluhoš Libor,
Mrózek Lech
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.201600538
Subject(s) - benzaldehyde , benzylamine , reductive amination , chemistry , yield (engineering) , organic chemistry , catalysis , hydrodesulfurization , amination , materials science , metallurgy
Technological aspects of the reductive amination of benzaldehyde with ammonia in the absence of solvents are discussed. The reaction kinetics in a slurry reactor was experimentally studied in order to maximize the yield of benzylamine. Effects of reaction conditions and type of solid catalyst on the content of undesirable by‐products were investigated. In particular, benzyl alcohol and trimers of benzylimine, namely, hydrobenzamide and 2,4,5‐triphenyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1 H ‐imidazole, were found as significant by‐products. The formation of poorly soluble high‐boiling trimers of benzylimine was minimized by semi‐batch arrangement of the process with continuous addition of benzaldehyde into the load of benzylamine, ammonia, and Raney‐Ni catalyst. Some important features of benzaldehyde amination, which make it less advantageous for benzylamine production compared to the benzonitrile hydrogenation, are described.