Reductive Amination of Diethylene Glycol to Morpholine on Supported Nickel Catalysts - Its Activity, Selectivity, Stability and Possibility of Reactivation

Abstract The effect of the support of high-loaded nickel catalyst on their physical properties (surface area, nickel reducibility, catalyst acidity) and catalytic activity, selectivity and stability in the reductive amination of diethylene glycol to morpholine was evaluated. Modification of the NiO/TiO 2 catalyst with Pd substantially increased the catalyst stability as a result of the amination of the catalyst surface by NH 2 fragments formed from ammonia. Nickel catalysts deactivated in the course of morpholine formation from diethylene glycol and ammonia can be reactivated by reaction of high-molecular condensation products on the catalyst surface with diethylene glycol in the absence of ammonia.