| abstract |
The present invention relates to a catalyst system suitable for the hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds (I) to form the corresponding aromatic amine (II), said catalyst system comprising as essential components silicon carbide, corundum (alpha-Al 2 O) 3 ) and component A selected from the group consisting of low-porous to non-porous zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ); and carrier material B1 selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, gamma-, delta- or theta-aluminum oxide Al 2 O 3 , titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide and graphite, copper, nickel, palladium, platinum and cobalt a metal or a plurality of metals B2, and optionally further metals B3 selected from the group consisting of one or more metals selected from main groups I, main groups II, main groups IV and subgroups II, V, VI and VIII of the periodic table of elements wherein the proportion of component A ranges from 5 to 60% by weight relative to the total weight of the catalyst system, wherein the aromatic nitro compound (I) has the general formula R—(NO 2 ) n (I), Aromatic amines (II) are those having the general formula R—(NH 2 ) n (II), wherein the moiety R and index n in formulas (I) and (II) above have the following meanings: R is substituted or an unsubstituted aromatic C 6 -C 10 moiety and n is an integer from 1 to 5. |