Carbon nanofiber supported Ni catalysts for the hydrogenation of chloronitrobenzenes

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) supported nickel catalysts for hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene were prepared by deposition precipitation method in ethylene glycol. It has been found that the precipitation temperature affected both the particle size and the catalytic performance of the CNF-supported catalysts. The Ni/CNFs catalyst prepared at 80 °C showed the best catalytic activity. For all of the Ni/CNFs catalysts prepared in ethylene glycol, over 98% conversion of o-chloronitrobenzene and 97% selectivity can be obtained at 2 MPa and 140 °C. The as-synthesized Ni/CNFs catalysts are also active for the hydrogenation of m-chloronitrobenzene and p-chloronitrobenzene to the corresponding chloroanilines.