Patent ID: 7115742

Claim:
A process for the preparation of triethylenediamine (TEDA) characterized by reaction of ethylenediamine (EDA) in the presence of a zeolite catalyst, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of from 14 to 300% by weight of water, based on EDA employed, and wherein the zeolite catalyst comprises a metal M in oxidation state III, selected from the group consisting of B, Fe, Co, Ni, V, Mo, Mn, As, Sb, Bi, La, Ga, In, Y, Sc and Cr, and mixtures thereof, or oxidation state IV, selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Ge, Hf and Sn, and mixtures thereof, as oxides, and for M=metal in oxidation state III, has an SiO 2 /M 2 O 3 molar ratio of greater than 100:1 to 40,000:1, and for M=metal in oxidation state IV, has an SiO 2 /MO 2 molar ratio of greater than 10:1 to 40,000:1, and the reaction temperature is from 250 to 500° C.