Hexamethylenediamine (HMDA), a chemical for producing nylon, was produced on Raney Ni and Raney Co catalysts via the hydrogenation of adiponitrile (ADN). HMDA was hydrogenated from ADN via 6-aminohexanenitrile (AHN). For the two catalysts, the effects of five different reaction parameters (reaction temperature, H2 pressure, catalyst loading, and ADN/HMDA ratio in the reactant) on the hydrogenation of ADN were investigated. Similar general trends demonstrating the dependence of ADN hydrogenation on the reaction conditions for both catalysts were observed: higher temperature (60–80 °C) and H2 pressure, as well as lower ADN/catalyst and ADN/HMDA ratios, led to higher HMDA yields. A further increase in temperature from 80 to 100 °C increased the HMDA yield from 90.5 to 100% for the Raney Ni catalyst, but did not affect the HMDA yield (85~87%) for the Raney Co catalyst. A 100% HMDA yield (the highest yield reported to date) was also achieved via ADN hydrogenation over the Raney Ni catalyst, with a high HMDA content in the reactant (e.g., ADN/HMDA volumetric ratio of 0.06). No sign of metal leaching into the product solution was found, meaning that the Raney Ni and Raney Co catalysts were stable during ADN hydrogenation.
Hydrogenation of Adiponitrile to Hexamethylenediamine over Raney Ni and Co Catalysts