Liquid Phase Hydrogenation of Maleic Acid Diethyl Ester and Its Mixture with 4-Nitrotoluene over Modified Skeletal Nickel

4-aminotoluene is known as a good octane additive, the mixture of maleic acid diethyl ester and Succinate acid diethyl ester has good lubricating characteristics. The process of hydrogenation of maleic acid diethyl ester at atmospheric pressure in aqueous solution of 2-propanol over skeletal nickel and modified skeletal one was investigated. It is established that the nickel surface modification by sulfur does not lead to the increase of the catalyst activity in the hydrogenation of maleic acid diethyl ester as opposed to 4-nitrotoluene. The principal possibility of selective hydrogenation of mixture of maleic acid diethyl ester with 4-nitrotoluene was demonstrated.