# US 5,352,835 A · Supported catalysts for amination > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,352,835 A - Document ID: US5352835A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/014,583 - Filed: 1993-02-08 - Granted: 1994-10-04 - Earliest claimed: 1993-02-08 - Assignees: Texaco Chemical Company - Inventors: Pei-Shing E. Dai; Terry L. Renken; Laurence D. Neff - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5352835A ## CPC - C07C 213/02: by reactions involving the formation of amino groups from compounds containing hydroxy groups or etherified or esterified hydroxy groups - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS ## Abstract Disclosed is a process for the amination of polyols to form primary amines which comprises reacting a polyoxyalkylene alcohol or polyol having a molecular weight of from about 230 to 5000 and ammonia in the presence of hydrogen over a catalyst consisting essentially of 10 to 35 wt % nickel, 1 to 20 wt % copper and 0.1 to 2.0 wt % optionally chromium or molybdenum promoter impregnated onto a .theta.-alumina support at a temperature of 100.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. and a pressure of 1000 psig to 3000 psig wherein the .theta.-alumina support results from calcining .gamma.-alumina or pseudo-boehmite for 2-4 hours at 900.degree.-1100.degree. C. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a process for the amination of alcohols to form primary amines which comprises reacting a polyoxyalkylene alcohol or polyol having a molecular weight of from 230 to 5000 with ammonia in the presence of hydrogen, the improvement comprising reacting said alcohol or polyol with ammonia over a catalyst composition consisting essentially of: 15-30 wt % nickel and 3-20 wt % copper and optionally 0.5-1 wt % molybdenum on a support consisting essentially of .gamma.-alumina characterized by a total pore volume by mercury intrusion of about 0.70 to 1.2 cc/g and a pore mode (diameter) between 70 and 110 .ANG. as measured by nitrogen desorption wherein the total active metal loading is 10-40 wt % of the catalyst as metal and at least 50 wt % of the total catalyst is .gamma.-alumina support. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the .gamma.-alumina support is characterized by having a pore volume distribution such that pores having diameters of less than 100 .ANG. constitute about 30% to 50%, pores having diameters of 100-160 .ANG. constitute about 30% to 50%, pores having diameters greater than 160 .ANG. constitute about 5% to 35%, and pores having diameters greater than 250 .ANG. constitute about 5% to 35% of the total pore volume of said catalyst support measured by mercury porosimetry. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the ratio of polyol to ammonia reactants is from 1:3 to 3:1 wt/wt and the amount of hydrogen reactant is 0.5 to 3.0 SCF/lb of polyol. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature is 180.degree. C. to 240.degree. C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the pressure is 1500 psig to 2500 psig. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the polyol has the formula: ##STR3## where n=about 33.1 or 84.7 and the catalyst consists essentially of nickel and copper deposited on a support in a ratio between 10:1 and 1:3 and amination is performed at a temperature of 180.degree. C. to 220.degree. C. and a pressure of 1500 psig to 2500 psig. ### Claim 7 In a process for the amination of alcohols to form primary amines which comprises reacting a polyoxyalkylene alcohol or polyol having a molecular weight of from 230 to 5000 with ammonia in the presence of hydrogen the improvement comprising accomplishing the reaction at a temperature of 100.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. and a pressure of 300 psi to 5000 psi in the presence of a catalyst composition consisting essentially of: .theta.-alumina on which there has been deposited nickel and copper in the form of nitrate hydrates at a temperature of 60.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., drying the catalyst overnight at 110.degree. C. to 130.degree. C., repeating said depositing and drying steps, and calcining said catalyst for 3-5 hours at 380.degree.-420.degree. C., forming supported metal oxides, wherein the total active metal loading is 10-40 wt % of the catalyst as metal and at least 50 wt % of the total catalyst is .theta.-alumina, resulting in a metal loading of 15-30 wt % nickel, 3-20 wt % copper and, optionally, 0.5-1 wt % molybdenum. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the ratio of polyol to ammonia reactants is from 1:3 to 3:1 wt/wt and the amount of hydrogen reactant is 0.5 to 3.0 ScF/lb of polyol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the polyol has the formula: ##STR4## where n=about 33.1 or 84.7 and the catalyst consists essentially of nickel and copper deposited on a support in a ratio between 10:1 and 1:3 and amination is performed at a temperature of 180.degree. C. to 220.degree. C. and a pressure of 1500 psig to 2500 psig. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the .theta.-alumina support results from calcining a .gamma.-alumina or pseudo-boehmite support for 2-4 hours at 900.degree.-1100.degree. C. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The process of claim 7 wherein the process takes place at a temperature of 180.degree. C. to 240.degree. C. and a pressure of 1500 psig to 2500 psig.