An Efficient Method for the Production of Cyclohexylamine from Cyclohexanone and Ammonia over Cu-Cr-La/γ-Al2O3

The reductive amination of cyclohexanone with ammonia over Cu-Cr-a/γ-Al₂O₃ was investigated. It was found that a proper solvent with high solubility of ammonia and 4Å molecular sieves for the elimination of generated water contributed to the formation of cyclohexylamine in the premixing process. In addition, the addition of ammonia in the fixedbed reactor could obviously improve the conversion of cyclohexanone to cyclohexylamine. Finally, reaction conditions including reaction temperature, hydrogen pressure and charging rate of the premix were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, cyclohexylamine was obtained in 83.06% yield.