KINETICS OF THE LIQUID-PHASE HYDROGENATION OF FURAN AMINES

The liquid phase hydrogenation reactions of both furfurylamine and 5,5'-ethylidenedifurfurylamine to the corresponding tetrahydrofuran compounds have been investigated over a rhodium on alumina catalyst suspended in a methanol solution. The reactions were studied at temperatures from 42.5 to 80.1 degrees C and hydrogen pressures from 231 to 1380 kPa (33.5 to 200 psi). The effects of the amount of catalyst and the concentrations of both reactants and products on the rates of these reactions were also investigated. Analysis of the data from these investigations using the method of initial rates indicates that the rates of hydrogenation of both furfurylamine and 5,5'-ethylidenedifurfurylamine are consistent with Hougen-Watson-Langmuir-Hinshelwood reaction mechanisms. The overall activation energies for the hydrogenation of furfurylamine and 5,5'-ethylidenedifurfurylamine are 49.4 +/- 2.5 and 63 +/- 4 kJ/mol, respectively.