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Preliminary thermodynamic studies on the hydrodenitrogenation of indole

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6632324

This report, detailing preliminary thermodynamic calculations on the hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of indole, shows that thermodynamic limitations exist in the reaction network. The first step in the reaction scheme (indole ..-->.. indoline) is a reversible reaction in the temperature range of interest, favored by low temperature. At 473 K (200/degree/C) 21 atmospheres of hydrogen is needed to obtain a 50/50 mole percent mixture of indole and indoline: at 573K (300/degree/C) 136 atmospheres of hydrogen is needed to obtain a 50/50 mole percent mixture of indole and indoline. The results of the thermodynamic analysis are in substantial agreement with the equilibrium data available in the literature. The thermodynamic data are used to help elucidate another study in the literature in which several different catalysts were compared. The results show that for a given catalyst, increasing the hydrogen pressure fails to promote the hydrogenolysis reaction relative to the hydrogenation equilibrium; increasing the temperature does promote hydrogenolysis. The relatively large C-NH/sub 2/ bond dissociation energy in 2-ethylaniline compared to 2-ethylcyclohexane means that the major pathway to HDN using present technology is via ring saturation. However, if catalysts can be found to selectively cleave the C-NH/sub 2/ bond in 2-ethylaniline, significant hydrogen saving can result. 20 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.

Research Organization:
National Inst. for Petroleum and Energy Research, Bartlesville, OK (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FC22-83FE60149
OSTI ID:
6632324
Report Number(s):
NIPER-379; ON: DE89000708
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English