Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for the catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic amines to their acyclic counterparts using a ruthenium catalyst on a lithium aluminate support. The hydrogenation process comprises contacting an aromatic amine with hydrogen in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst under temperature and pressure conditions suitable to effect ring hydrogenation. The process is especially useful for hydrogenating aniline to cyclohexylamine.

Abstract: A new method of making phosphate-based catalysts by mixing phosphoric acid with a substantially water insoluble alkaline earth metal salt such that the phosphorus to alkaline earth metal molar ratio is less than 1. The product, containing alkaline earth metal hydrogen phosphate and the starting alkaline earth metal salt, is filtered and dried. The product can be used as a catalyst in the production of triethylenediamine from, for example, mono- and di-substituted piperazines, such as hydroxyethylpiperazine and aminoethylpiperazine, ethanolamines and substituted ethanolamines, and crude hydroxyethylpiperazine containing piperazine, hydroxyethylpiperazine, bis-hydroxyethylpiperazine, and water.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process for the catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic amines and to the resultant catalyst. The basic process for hydrogenating both mononuclear and polynuclear aromatic amines comprises contacting an aromatic amine with hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium catalyst under conditions for effecting ring hydrogenation. The improvement in the ring hydrogenation process resides in the use of a rhodium catalyst carried on a lithium aluminate support. Often ruthenium is included.

Abstract: A process for preparing triethylenediamine and piperazine by passing an ethanolamine, ethyleneamine, piperazine or morpholine over a pentasil-type zeolite at elevated temperature characterized by employing a ZSM-5 zeolite in the hydrogen or ammonium form which has been treated with a passivating agent which is a silicon-containing compound capable of deactivating the acidic sites on the zeolite surface.

Abstract: A process for the production of predominantly primary and secondary amines and little or no tertiary amines by the reductive amination of aliphatic alcohols using a metal exchanged crystalline aluminosilicate catalyst. The catalyst has a silica/alumina ratio ranging from about 10:1 to 40:1, contains about 1 to 10% by weight of cobalt or nickel and about 0.05 to 5% by weight of at least one other metal. High conversion rates are achieved at moderate temperatures and pressures.