Selective liquid‐phase hydrogenation of 2,6‐dinitrotoluene with platinum catalysts

The kinetics of the consecutive liquid‐phase hydrogenation of 2,6‐dinitrotoluene to 2‐amino‐6‐nitrotoluene and 2,6‐diaminotoluene was studied in ethanol with 0·5% Pt/Al 2 O 3 as a catalyst using a stirred tank slurry reactor in the temperature and pressure ranges of 313 to 348 K and 0·5 to 10 MPa, respectively. The intrinsic kinetics of the consecutive reaction can be described by a Langmuir‐Hinshelwood type model with non‐competitive adsorption of organic species and hydrogen on the catalyst surface. At 313 K a maximum yield for the intermediate 2‐amino‐6‐nitrotoluene of over 95% can be achieved if heat and mass transfer effects are eliminated.