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Catalytic nitroxidation of para‐xylene over chromium oxide based catalysts
Author(s) -
Zine S.,
Sayari A.,
Ghorbel A.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450650120
Subject(s) - catalysis , chromium , redox , chemistry , oxide , chromium oxide , inorganic chemistry , aerogel , xylene , materials science , organic chemistry , toluene , nanotechnology
The synthesis of para‐tolunitrile (PTN) and terephthalonitrile (TPN) by reacting nitrogen monoxide with para‐xylene was studied in presence of three chromium oxide catalysts. The Cr 2 O 3 —Al 2 O 3 catalyst was prepared under the form of aerogel or xerogel and shows excellent selectivities in nitriles along with good stability. However, the unsupported Cr 2 O 3 catalyst showed much less performance and, in particular, produced no TPN. The beneficial action of alumina was explained in terms of stabilization of the Cr 5+ species. Kinetic results seemed to indicate a redox‐type mechanism of the reaction. Moreover the PTN was shown to be an intermediate in TPN formation.