Carbon nanotubes supported platinum catalysts for selective hydrogenation of m- and o-chloronitrobenzene

Hydrogenation of m- and o-chloronitrobenzene (CNB) has been studied over Pt/CNTs and PtM/CNTs catalysts (M= Mn. Fe, Co, Ni and Cu) in ethanol at 343 K and normal pressure. The effect of substrate concentration and reaction temperature has also been investigated. The introduction of transition metals to Pt/CNTs catalyst influences its catalytic properties significantly. Both the catalytic activities and yields of m- and o-chloroaniline (CAN) are improved. PtFe/CNTs catalyst exhibits the best catalytic activity and the highest yield of CAN (98.1 mol% for m-CAN and 97.5 mol% for o-CAN). Different reductants have been found to influence both the catalytic activity and yield of m-CAN. Pt/CNTs catalyst reduced by KBH 4 exhibits good catalytic activity and stability on the hydrogenation of m-CNB.