Modelling of the deactivation of polymer-supported palladium catalysts in the hydrogenation of 4-nitrotoluene

The kinetics of the hydrogenation of 4-nitrotoluene over Pd catalysts supported on sulfonated polystyrene and simultaneous deactivation of these catalysts were investigated. Reaction rates of both the hydrogenation and the dissolution of Pd crystallites were related to the total Pd surface. The average radius of ideal spherical crystallites, as determined by X-ray powder diffraction analysis, was taken as the starting value of the crystallite size. Stability of the polymer network was checked by Inverse Steric Exclusion Chromatography (ISEC). The ESR and Static Gradient field Spin Echo (SGSE) NMR spectroscopies were used to assess the accessibility and diffusivity before and after deactivation experiments. Langmuir-Hinshelwood type kinetic models were applied to describe the hydrogenation of 4-nitrotoluene. The kinetic law was incorporated into a more comprehensive model involving also diffusion of reactants inside catalytic particles. Simultaneous treatment of a few sets of kinetic data from batch hydrogenation carried our at 0.25-0.75 MPa yielded reliable values of model parameters. The model showed an increasing rate of dissolution of palladium with decreasing concentration of hydrogen and increasing concentration of 4-nitrotoluene. The latter fact supports the hypothesis that the nitro compound is the oxidant responsible for the dissolution of palladium.