Additive-free vapour-phase hydrogenation of benzonitrile over MgO-supported Ni catalysts

MgO-supported Ni catalysts were selectively catalysed by the hydrogenation of benzonitrile to benzylamine in continuous flow at atmospheric pressure without any additives. Ni/MgO catalysts were synthesized by co-precipitation method with NaOH as the precipitating agent. All the synthesized catalysts were characterized by various physiochemical techniques, namely XRD, H-2-TPR, BET surface area, CO2-TPD, SEM, and TEM. Among them, 10% Ni/MgO catalyst showed the best activity with 98% conversion of benzonitrile, 60% selectivity to benzylamine at 473 K. The high dispersion of Ni and strong metal support interactions with MgO are key factors for the catalytic performance. 10Ni/MgO catalyst was found to be consistent throughout the time-on-stream studies of 36 h which clearly explains the excellence of the catalytic system. Graphic abstract Ni/MgO catalysts are active in gas phase hydrogenation of benzonitrile to benzylamine at atmospheric pressure.