Characterization and Testing of Copper-Containing Catalysts in Dehydrogenation of Cyclohexanol into Cyclohexanone

A comparative analysis of the main characteristics of industrial catalysts and the innovative MAK-K catalyst in the dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol was performed. The main attention was paid to a comparison of MAK-K with H3-11 (BASF), which is currently the best catalyst in terms of activity and selectivity in the temperature range 220–270°C at a feedstock space velocity of 0.6–1.3 h–1. Both catalysts are characterized by close dependences on these parameters; MAK-K is recommended for use at lower temperatures and higher space velocities. The results of the industrial tests of MAK-K (NIAP-KATALIZATOR) loaded in an amount of 1.4 m3 in reactor 2 of the cyclohexanol dehydrogenation shop of Shchekinoazot were also presented. The high level of activity and selectivity of MAK-K was confirmed over the period of operation (more than 2000 h), and this catalyst showed that it is highly competitive in respect of the tested samples, including foreign ones.