Application of Response Surface Methodology for Catalytic Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene to Aniline Using Ruthenium Supported Fullerene Nanocatalyst

In this study fullerene functionalized using oleum (H۲SO۴·SO۳), followed by the hydrolysis of the intermediate cyclosulfated fullerene as well as  an oxidizing agent was employed to functionalize the fullerenes. Ruthenium was then added by the impregnation method or deposited on the functionalized fullerene. Subsequent to this step, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to study the cumulative effect of various parameters including, pressure, temperature, time and loading. In order to maximize the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene (NB) to aniline (AN) these latter parameters were optimized. Furthermore, catalytic activity was evaluated over a temperature range of ۲۵–۱۵۰°C, hydrogen pressure of ۱-۳۰ atm, ruthenium content of ۱-۱۵%(w/w) and reaction time of ۳۰-۱۸۰ min in a bench scale reactor. The optimized model predicted that the hydrogenation should be at a maximum level (approximately ۱۰۰%) with the following conditions; Ru loading of ۱۵%, reaction temperature of ۱۵۰ °C, reaction time of ۱۸۰ min and hydrogen pressure of ۲۲.۳۳ atm.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hydrogenation ، Nitrobenzene ، Aniline ، Ruthenium ، Fullerene ، Response surface methodology