Abstract: In situ liquid-phase hydrogenation of nitrobenzene for the synthesis of N-ethylaniline and N,N-diethylaniline in ethanol-water solution over the Pt/γ-Al2O3catalyst was studied. The Pt/γ-Al2O3catalyst was characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry,X-raydiffraction, temperature-programmed desorption, and transmission electron microscopy. The results of the reaction showed that under the conditions of 503 K, 5.0 MPa, 3.2 h-1, and 8% nitrobenzene concentration with 70% ethanol and 30% H2O solution, the nitrobenzene conversion reached 100%, and the total yield of N-ethylaniline and N,N-diethylaniline reached as high as 99.5%. The reaction mechanism was discussed.

Key words: platinum, alumina, nitrobenzene, in situ liquid-phase hydrogenation, N-ethylaniline, N, N-diethylaniline, ethanol