Decoloration of indene—coumarone resins by catalytic hydrogenation

Abstract The catalytic hydrogenation of indene—coumarone resins, a coal‐derived polymer, has been carried out using commercially available catalysts. Hydrogenation of the resins causes the saturation of double bonds and leads to decoloration of the product, increasing its market value. A nickel‐on‐kieselguhr catalyst (Süd‐Chemie G‐49‐BRS) seems to be the most active and gives the highest degree of decoloration. However the decolorated resins tend to recover spontaneously their former colour, the process being only slightly prevented by the addition of stabilizers.