Cobalt Scandium Catalyst Moisture Tolerance Reductive Amination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catalysts for reductive amination reactions lose activity due to moisture, leading to decreased efficiency in both batch and continuous processes for producing polyetheramine compounds.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst comprising cobalt (Co) and scandium (Sc) as active components, optionally with additional metals like palladium, ruthenium, or platinum, which maintains catalytic activity and balances dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions even in the presence of moisture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If existing catalysts (Cu-Ni based with Cr, Ti, Zr, Zn, Mo) are used for reductive amination reaction, then catalytic activity can be enhanced, but the catalyst loses activity easily due to moisture formed during the reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite catalyst system combining Cu-Ni base metals with rare earth metals (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, or Lu). This composite structure allows the rare earth metals to stabilize the catalyst against moisture while the Cu-Ni components provide catalytic activity for the reductive amination reaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The rare earth metals act as intermediary components that mediate between the catalytic function and moisture resistance. These rare earth metals form a protective effect that prevents moisture from deactivating the Cu-Ni catalytic sites, thereby maintaining both activity and stability simultaneously.
2Reliability
If continuous process is used to eliminate moisture from reaction system, then catalyst activity can be maintained, but complex facilities are needed and overall production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The catalyst system is designed to be self-protecting against moisture deactivation. The rare earth metal components inherently provide moisture resistance, eliminating the need for external moisture removal systems or complex continuous processing facilities. The catalyst maintains its own activity stability through its intrinsic composition.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring complex systems to remove moisture (harmful factor), the patent converts the moisture challenge into a benefit by designing a catalyst that thrives in moisture-containing environments. The rare earth metals transform the previously harmful moisture into a non-deactivating condition, allowing batch processing without moisture removal equipment.
3Ease of operation
If existing catalysts are used in batch-type process, then simpler operation is achieved, but side-reactions proceed due to excessive moisture and reaction efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The composite Cu-Ni-rare earth catalyst structure enables batch processing by providing inherent moisture tolerance. The rare earth components prevent side-reactions that would otherwise occur in batch processes with moisture accumulation, thereby maintaining high reaction efficiency while preserving the simplicity of batch operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The catalyst ensures high amine conversion rates and stable catalytic activity, enabling efficient polyetheramine production in both batch and continuous processes without the need for complex moisture removal systems.
Implementation Method 1
the reductive amination-reaction is accompanied by the processes of dehydrogenation, dehydration, and hydrogenation
Implementation Method 2
the reductive amination-reaction is accompanied by the processes of dehydrogenation, dehydration, and hydrogenation
Implementation Method 3
a catalyst for reductive amination-reaction including cobalt (Co) and scandium (Sc) as active components
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a catalyst for reductive amination-reaction, and uses thereof. The catalyst according to the present invention can show a high amine conversion rate because it can maintain catalytic activity even in the presence of moisture particularly while basically maintaining the balance of dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions. Accordingly, the catalyst can be usefully used for preparing a polyetheramine compound through a reductive amination-reaction not only in a continuous preparation process but also in a batch preparation process, irrespective of the existence of moisture.