INFLUENCE OF SULFUR POISONING OF COPPER ALUMINA CATALYST ON THE SELECTIVE HYDROGENATION OF CROTONALDEHYDE

The effect of the presence of sulphur on the activity and selectivity of a Cu/Al2O3 catalyst has been examined by selective hydrogenation of an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde, crotonaldehyde, at different reaction conditions. Cu/Al2O3 in the absence of sulphur poisons produced preferentially 1-butanol, whereas catalysts pre-dosed with a suitable amount of thiophene, shifted the product distribution towards formation of crotyl alcohol. The formation of crotyl alcohol under these conditions is favoured at low conversions and low temperature, and the maximum selectivity of 64% crotyl alcohol was achieved at a reaction temperature of 80-degrees-C.