Hydrogenation of phenol on rhodium nanoparticles stabilized on a support formed by the reaction of melamine and cyanuric chloride

Abstract

The heterogeneous catalyst Rh/CAM, which was formed by highly dispersed uniform-size rhodium nanoparticles stabilized on a support prepared by the reaction of melamine and cyanuric chloride, was prepared. The catalyst showed high activity in the hydrogenation of phenol and its homologues. The quantitative conversion of phenol to cyclohexanol occurs within 1–2 h at a hydrogen pressure of 1.0 MPa and a temperature of 60 °C in the absence of a solvent. The catalyst maintains its activity after a series of ten consecutive cycles. The influence of the temperature, pressure, and solvent on the activity, selectivity, and stability of the operation of the catalyst was studied.