The application of neutron imaging to investigate the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene over an alumina-supported palladium catalyst

Aniline is an important feedstock in the production of isocyanates, which are used to make polyurethanes. In 2008 approximately 3.8 Mt of aniline were produced. The main route to aniline production is via the heterogeneously catalysed hydrogenation of nitrobenzene, with supported Pd catalysts finding wide application. This proposal seeks to use the IMAT facility to analyse the partitioning of hydrogen throughout a bed of Pd/Al2O3 catalyst during nitrobenzene hydrogenation operation in (i) hydrogen-rich and (ii) hydrogen-lean regimes. The proposed study will reveal whether hydrogen concentration gradients across the bed exist, and the outcomes correlated with aniline selectivity.