Hydrogenation of 4-chloro-2-nitrophenol (CNP) was carried out at moderate hydrogen pressures, 7-28atm, and temperatures in the range 298-313K using Pt/carbon and Pd/gamma-Al2O3 as catalysts in a stirred pressure reactor. Hydrogenation of CNP under the above conditions gave 4-chloro-2-aminophenol (CAP). Dechlorination to form 2-aminophenol and 2-nitrophenol is observed when hydrogenation of CNP is carried out above 338K, particularly with Pd/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst. Among the catalysts tested, 1%Pt/C was found to be an effective catalyst for the hydrogenation of CNP to form CAP, exclusively. To confirm the absence of gas-liquid mass transfer effects on the reaction, the effect of stirring speed (200-1000 rpm) and catalyst loading (0.02-0.16 g) on the initial reaction rate at maximum temperature 310 K and substrate concentration (0.25 mole) were thoroughly studied. The kinetics of hydrogenation of CNP carried out using 1%Pt/C indicated that the initial rates of hydrogenation had first order dependence with respect to substrate, catalyst and hydrogen pressure in the range of concentrations varied. From the Arrhenius plot of In rate vs 1000/T, an apparent activation energy of 2 2 kJ mol(-1) was estimated.