Process for the production of aromatic amines

Abstract

Process for the production of an aromatic amine by reacting an aromatic hydrocarbon with ammonia at a temperature of less than 500° C. and a pressure of less than 10 bara in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of the transition elements, lanthanides and actinides, preferably in the presence of an oxidant.

1 . Process for the production of an aromatic amine by reacting an aromatic hydrocarbon with ammonia at a temperature of less than 500° C. and a pressure of less than 10 bara in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of the transition elements, lanthanides and actinides.  
     
     
         2 . Process according to    claim 1    wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon is benzene.  
     
     
         3 . Process according to    claim 1    or    2    wherein the temperature is between 300 and 450° C.  
     
     
         4 . Process according to    claim 3    wherein the temperature is between 350 and 400° C.  
     
     
         5 . Process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the pressure is between 1 and 7 bar.  
     
     
         6 . Process according to    claim 5    wherein the pressure is between 2 and 5 bar.  
     
     
         7 . Process according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the catalyst comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, vanadium, cobalt, copper, nickel, chromium, zirconium, silver and gold.  
     
     
         8 . Process according to    claim 7    wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, platinum, vanadium, rhodium and palladium.  
     
     
         9 . Process according to claims  7 - 8  said catalyst comprise the metals in oxide form.  
     
     
         10 . Process according to any to the preceding claims further characterised is that the aromatic hydrocarbon reacts with ammonia in the presence of an oxdant.  
     
     
         11 . Process according to    claim 10    wherein said oxidant is an oxygen containing gas, the molar ratio of the oxygen in the oxygen containing gas to hydrocarbon being in the range from 0.01:1 to 0.5:1.  
     
     
         12 . Process according to any of the preceding claims, said process being a semi-continuous or a continuous process