The hydrogenation of nitriles utilizing
heterogeneous catalysis is
a significant commercial
process for the synthesis of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines.
Periodic plane-wave density functional theory (DFT) is used to examine
the hydrogenation of acetonitrile to primary, secondary, and tertiary
amines on palladium catalysts. The quantified minimum energy reaction
pathways, including activation barriers, for acetonitrile reaction
to higher amines are discussed. The construction of a microkinetic
model from first-principles for higher amine synthesis is presented.
In addition, the microkinetic model simulations are discussed and
compared to palladium-based catalyst experimental results for higher
amine synthesis. For the first time, this novel and robust reactor
model provides detailed insights into surface species coverage, as
a function of process conditions (e.g., feedstock ratio, catalyst
type, temperature, and pressure). More broadly, process engineers
can leverage this valuable information to guide reaction engineering
efforts, including process optimization, reactor design, and catalyst
selection.