COPPER ALLOY CATALYSTS IN THE HYDROGENATION OF ANTHRAQUINONE: A TECHNOLOGICAL STUDY

The hydrogenation of anthraquinone is a critical step in the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, an important industrial oxidant. Traditionally, solid noble metal catalysts such as nickel and palladium have been used for this reaction, but the exploration of alternative catalysts such as copper alloys offers potential advantages in cost and availability, as well as opportunities to tune the catalytic properties. The choice to study anthraquinone hydrogenation using a copper alloy catalyst was driven by the need to overcome the problems associated with noble metal catalysts, including cost and scarcity. This study focuses on the hydrogenation of anthraquinone using a copper-aluminum alloy catalyst. The catalyst was prepared by alloying copper and aluminum, with added elements such as chromium, iron, and silicon. The objective was to improve the catalytic activity and selectivity in the hydrogenation process, which is crucial for the industrial production of hydrogen peroxide. The catalyst was treated with 20% NaOH, which facilitated the exposure of active centers, leading to enhanced hydrogen desorption. The results demonstrated that the catalyst with 50% aluminum and 45% copper exhibited the highest catalytic performance, achieving hydrogen peroxide yields of up to 30.3% at 60°C and 1 MPa pressure. The catalysts containing chromium, iron, and silicon showed 1.6-1.9 times increase in productivity compared to the prototype. Optimal performance was observed at a temperature of 100°C, where the hydrogenation rate reached its peak. These findings indicate that the Cu-Al-FCC-75 alloy is highly effective for anthraquinone hydrogenation, providing high activity and selectivity.